Daycare vs in home child care: 5 Differences Between In Home ChildCare and a Daycare Center

5 Differences Between In Home ChildCare and a Daycare Center

Are you a new parent struggling with the decision between a home-based
childcare option versus a daycare center? Here are some things to think about
as you consider that decision on daycares near me.

1.    
Home vs. Center Building: 

In-home care is
often a popular option for families who prefer a home setting, explains Penny
Lupo, a licensed counselor who has 10 years of experience in childcare.  In many cases families choose these options
for infants or toddlers due to the wish to have the child in a home setting
rather than a group setting.   Other families prefer the daycare center with
security door and director oversight.  

2.    
Openings: 

There is also often a shortage in
openings for children under 3 years old in a childcare center due to the higher
cost of providing daycare services for infants and toddlers.  Costs can exceed $15,000 per year in Central
New York depending on the center, and waiting lists can begin 8 months before
the child is born in certain Syracuse and Oswego locations!  Some parents prefer 1 location for all siblings,
including before- and after-school care as they grow.

3.    
Age Groups: 

Home daycare is a choice for people that
want that “home feel” and don’t mind their child being in a mixed age
group.  Home daycares often do a lot of
educational activities, however the wide variety of materials found in center
based care are not always present due to lack of space or cost.  High quality daycare centers are often
curriculum focused and highly structured, with a daily schedule and planned
developmentally appropriate lessons for the specific age group.   Educationally enriched curriculum encourages
literacy, language development, social and emotional development in
children.  For
example, toddlers at Little Lukes may learn about colors during a sensory
activity around the week’s theme of animals.

4.    
Schedules: 

It may be possible to find a home
daycare provider that has a more flexible schedule for families that need non-traditional
hours of care.  Having a home-based
daycare can be a challenge when the provider is sick, has appointments, or
vacation plans.   Childcare centers have
substitute teachers available to provide care year-round.  Childcare centers and Home daycares are often
closed on major holidays and weekends and have specific set hours each week.   Little Lukes Preschool & Childcare
Center in Oswego, Fulton, Radisson and Dewitt is open 6:30am-6:30pm on
weekdays, and closed on 7 observed holidays. 
Pulaski Little Lukes Preschool & Childcare Center is open 6am-6pm
and closed on 7 observed holidays.

5.    
Regulations: 

Home daycares and center-based daycares are
required to be licensed by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
and also required to get continued training. 
There are safety limits on the number of children in care for each age
group and per adult in both home based and center based daycares.  Childcare centers often require a minimum of
a CDA or Associate’s degree to be employed as a lead teacher in the classroom.  Group sizes follow the OCFS standards and most
children are cared for by more than one adult while parents are at work.   Be sure to ask home-based daycares about
their OCFS license.  Ask the center
director about the education level of lead teacher and TA in the classroom.

Choosing Between Daycares Near Me 

With so many areas to consider, be sure to start your
childcare search early.  Interview each
provider and take a tour.  Before
finalizing your enrollment, tour at a different time of day to see the
environment and ask plenty of questions. 
 

Penny Lupo has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood
education and worked in childcare for more than ten years as a preschool
teacher, program coordinator and center director.  She also has a master’s degree in mental
health counseling, license from NYS as a mental health counselor, and is
certified by National Institute for Relationship Enhancement as a play
therapist.  Penny currently works as a
counselor with Integrative Counseling Services in Oswego NY. 

Many parents struggle with Choosing a Childcare Near Me in Oswego, Syracuse, Baldwinsville,
Fulton and Pulaski NY.   For more
information on choosing a Central New York center-based childcare center near
you, visit www.littlelukes.com and click Schedule a Tour. 

Deciding Between a Home Daycare vs. Center

There are many options that parents must weigh when it comes to choosing the right childcare for their family; the debate between sending your child to a home daycare vs. a center is one of them.

While the benefits of a home-like daycare environment are clear, you may still wonder if you should send your baby to a home daycare. What should you keep in mind as you compare home daycare vs. center options?

This article looks at the main differences between a home daycare vs. a center to help you weigh your options and make the best decision for your family.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Home Daycare vs. Center

Facilities

A home daycare, also called “family childcare,” is typically held in — yes, you guessed it: a home setting. Some families prefer the comforts that a home-like environment can offer, while others are drawn to the peace of mind that a daycare center facility provides. Daycare centers typically have more extensive facilities with additional safety measures, such as locking security doors and administrative staff.

Most quality daycares understand the importance of a homelike environment for young children, so even if the program is in a larger facility, the space itself is designed to resemble that of home.

Daycare Curriculum

While the curriculum may not look very different in a home daycare vs. center, there tend to be a few differences due to the facilities and programs’ setup. Many in-home daycares have smaller group sizes with mixed-age groups, so the offerings and schedule may be more flexible and fluid.

Daycare centers may have a more structured curriculum, with age-based activities designed to promote that age group’s skills and development. For example, Cadence Education’s daycare centers have a curriculum emphasizing social-emotional development geared towards strengthening prosocial behaviors and important life milestones. In addition, most Cadence Education daycare centers use a skills-based Ascend curriculum. This curriculum has activities designed to foster critical thinking, independence, and school readiness through skill-based learning. Like those at Cadence facilities, many programs will offer a comprehensive and nurturing curriculum focused on providing individualized instruction to support each child’s unique learning needs.

Accreditation

Ensuring your childcare is equipped with quality teachers, sufficient safety measures, and adequate programming is a big piece of the puzzle for many parents. But how can you determine the accreditation of your childcare program? And how is the accreditation different in a home daycare vs. center?

Childcare accreditation is the recognition of exceptional early education care and programs. An accredited daycare is a program that has exceeded more than just state licensing requirements. It has undergone extensive processes to meet consistent health and safety measures ensuring programs have fully licensed childcare professionals and environments that meet the designated standards. The requirements for in-home daycares to have licensed providers vary state by state. So you must do research ahead of time to ensure your prospective child care provider has the qualifications that meet your needs.

One-on-One Care

The importance of individual attention and personalized care is unique in early childhood. Whether your child is in the care of your family, daycare educators, or in-home providers, you want them to have one-on-one attention. Most in-home daycares operate in smaller settings, offering the benefit of increased capacity for one-on-one support. However, quality daycare centers like Cadence schools will prioritize the importance of personalized care, ensuring the staff-to-child ratio can provide one-on-one care for every child.

Watch Your Child Grow at Cadence Education

While it can be challenging to choose between a home daycare vs. a center, evaluating your future childcare’s curriculum, facilities, accreditation, and care will allow you to reach your decision confidently. Whatever choice you make, you will have peace of mind knowing that you’ve considered all the options.

When you choose a quality daycare program like Cadence Education, you will feel assured in your decision, knowing that your child is in a nurturing environment that feels just like home. Cadence Education programs offer the safety, security, and accreditation that a daycare center facility has to offer while providing the home-like feel and personalized care that your child deserves.

If you’re ready to watch your child grow in a safe and supportive setting, the programs at Cadence Education may be the right fit. Find a facility near you to learn more about the early education and exceptional care they offer – to ensure you make the best choice for your family to thrive.

Home education as an alternative to kindergarten: advantages and disadvantages

This article is designed to help parents make the right choice, weighing the pros and cons of kindergarten and home education.

Contents

The baby is growing up and kindergarten is just around the corner. Parents are faced with the question: why not leave the child at home? Comfortable environment, mom is always there, no one will offend … However, there are also disadvantages.

In the 21st century, along with the growth of private kindergartens, the number of children brought up at home is growing. What attracts new parents to home education? nine0003

• Comfortable environment or natural environment. During the first years of life, the baby grows at home. Parents maximally adjusted it to the needs and needs of the little man. Familiar objects, favorite toys, loved ones create a cozy and safe environment. The home environment naturally suits the physiological needs of the preschooler, creating psychological comfort.
• Home care. No kindergarten can replace a mother: an atmosphere of love, care and warmth. Even a trifle does not escape her keen eyes. Mom will change clothes if the clothes are dirty, clean her ears, wash her face. Toilet, walks and sleep are not on schedule, but at the request of the child. The kid hit – mom will regret, burst into tears – hug, sad – play. She is always there! nine0016
• No stress. Every parent knows how hard it is for children during the first months of adaptation to kindergarten. Isolation from the familiar environment and mother is a strong stress that negatively affects the mental state of the child. Domestic children are protected from nervous breakdown. They do not experience discomfort, the concept of “adaptation” is not familiar to them.
• 100% individual approach. This aspect can be considered in many ways. This is an educational process, and a daily routine, and physiological characteristics, and the development of abilities, and an emphasis on the interests and needs of a preschooler. No matter how professional the teacher is, it is unrealistic to take into account the interests of 15-20 children. To adjust to one “tomboy” is much easier. And given that his mother knows him from the cradle, she intuitively feels the needs and mood of her dear little man. nine0016
• Education under supervision. When you send your child to a kindergarten, there is no guarantee that a tactful and competent teacher will come across. And if you’re not lucky? What beliefs, norms and moral values ​​will he lay in the mind of a small person? What kind of behavior will it show? Considering that the basis of personality is formed before 5-7 years, this is a big responsibility. Family upbringing is a guarantee that no one will offend the baby, break his will and injure the child’s psyche. Antimoral statutes, unacceptable examples and unworthy deeds remain beyond the reach of the preschooler. He adopts the exemplary behavior and values ​​of the family. nine0016
• No equalization. In the kindergarten, group education, where children are adjusted to the needs of the team. On the one hand, it is good to take into account the opinions of other people, on the other hand, it is not. There is a herd feeling – to do like everyone else. And if not like everyone else, then you interfere with the group. Education and development at home makes the little person feel his own unique personality with ample opportunities. Show individuality. There is no pressure here, and there is no feeling that you are a cog in some system. The child is a system, an integral mechanism. nine0016
• Suitable for everyone. All children with their own characteristics of character and immunity. There are closed, noisy, nimble. There are painful, disturbing. Kindergarten is not for everyone. It is hard for a shy and modest baby to “open up” among active and noisy ones. Nimble people are slowed down and adjusted to “comfortable standards”. Kindergarten for often ill children is an extra burden on the immune system.

Education at home is a loyal approach and adjustment to the characteristics of the character and immune system of a particular child. nine0003

It would seem that he left the preschooler at home and no problems. No need to wake up early, favorite toys are at hand, relatives are nearby, no one will offend. But not everything is so simple: there is a TV at home, mom is busy cooking, washing, cleaning … And you also need to find time for walks, games and activities with the baby.

Insufficient socialization. Kindergarten maximally adapts a preschooler to the social environment. There is a wide circle of communication where the baby interacts with different types of characters. Knows what justice, friendship, empathy are. Student:

• find ways to communicate with the group,
• play by the rules, compete, negotiate,
• consider the opinions of others,
• pick up friends according to interests,
• try on social roles,
• defend your opinion.

Home education does not compensate for social adaptation, it significantly narrows the social circle of a preschooler. There is a risk of raising an egoist, not a sociable child, a “black sheep”. At school, it may be difficult to communicate with children and teachers. nine0003

Unskilled preparation for school. Sitting at home, the child does not receive the knowledge, skills and abilities that kindergarten children. Some parents think that learning the letters and learning to read is enough preparation. No! In the garden, they develop thinking, memory, speech, broaden their horizons, prepare them for learning to read and a hand for writing.

Educators work according to a special program, which describes what a preschooler of a certain age should know and be able to do. If the mother took upon herself the responsibility of raising the baby, then it would be good for her to familiarize herself with the program of preschool education. The teaching methodology is also important. Parents will have to comprehend the basics of preschool pedagogy. nine0003

The skill of discipline and perseverance is not formed. No matter how quick-witted a child is, if he is not assiduous and is not friendly with discipline, he will lag behind in his studies. The ability to concentrate, sit through several classes, restrain and control one’s behavior – these skills are honed in preschool groups. In the classroom, in collective games, in the daily activities of children.

Insufficient variety of play activities. In preschool institutions, children play role-playing and outdoor games, participate in relay races and competitions. For them, they organize sports and thematic holidays, New Year’s morning performances. This is a sea of ​​positivity and energy. A home child is deprived of such opportunities. He can only be content with didactic games with his mother. nine0003

The risk of spoiling the baby. Children obey strangers better than their parents. They are good manipulators. They know the weaknesses of loved ones. Therefore, raising your kids is harder. There is a high probability of going on about your own child.

Whims, tantrums and scandals… What tricks are used to achieve the goal. In order not to succumb to children’s provocations, parents need to be competent psychologists and have a strong character.

Not enough time. Mom has a lot to do at home: run to the store, cook food, clean the room, wash and iron the clothes. I also want to read and watch TV. Mom is not a robot. Where to find time for games and activities with the baby? What will he do while mom is busy with household chores? How to organize leisure and recreation of a preschooler?

We also read: How a young mother can cope with a child and household chores

In a kindergarten, this problem is solved simply: the teacher came to work, and apart from taking care of the children, she does nothing else. nine0003

Boring. After 5-6 years, children want to communicate with their peers. Sitting at home with mom and didactic games get boring. But with whom to communicate? During the day all the children are in the garden, and in the evening their parents take them home. After all, you need to cook to eat, and it would not hurt to relax after work. In the summer, children go to the south, some to their grandmother in the village. So it turns out that there is no one to even play with.

How to compensate for the shortcomings of home education. Alternative

1. Leaving the baby at home means taking responsibility. nine0015 He needs to be dealt with. If parents want to prepare their child for school, they will have to learn the basics of pedagogy or use the services of private specialists.
2. Private or home kindergarten. Partially solves the problem of individual approach. There are fewer children in such kindergartens, which means attention and inspection are better. It is expensive, but the demand from it is greater. True, the baby will still have to go through adaptation.
3. Home education + visit to the development center. nine0015 On a paid basis. Partially solves the problem of communication in groups and a qualified approach to development and training. Unfortunately, spending time in such places is short-term and only a few times a week.
4. Governess or school preparation tutor. This is a qualified child home worker. A governess will cost more than tutoring. Solves the problem of development, education and preparation of the child for school. The question of social adaptation will remain.

nine0013 Home education + kindergarten. In other words, a short day in kindergarten. You can agree with the leadership of the preschool institution to bring the child for several hours a day, half a day. You will have to pay the full price. Solves the problem with discipline, preparation for school, communication with peers.