https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 15:03:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183640 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:40:37 +0000 banana 183640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I forgot to mention that the home-based daycare is a korean-speaking daycare. They don't speak any english. Whereas the center daycare speaks only english. It wasn't a huge consideration for me because I've heard from many people that kids are able to distinguish between two languages at an early age. But it definitely was a factor in our consideration. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183631 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:31:09 +0000 mrsmenow 183631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: That are pretty good. We get lesson plans each week with what they will learn, they go on field trips, they play outside twice a day (unless there is bad weather, and then they go to the gym that has slide and bikes.). It makes going back to work a lot easier knowing they are in a good place.</p> <p> If we had found an in home center as good as yours we definately would have considered it, but we had just moved here and didn't know anybody so going with recommendations from people we didn't know didn't feel right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183617 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:17:36 +0000 banana 183617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmenow: Your daycare center sounds great too! My friend's biggest complaint about hers is that they don't give her detailed summaries. Just basically general things like how much she ate, what she played with it, # of poops, things like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183615 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:13:52 +0000 mrsmenow 183615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: That's awesome then that you found someone great. Our daycare center does really thorough summaries too, it's nice to know how their day was and funny things they said or did. We have been so lucky to find a great place, we looked for such a long time and I wasn't sure we were going to find a place we would be happy with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183610 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:07:52 +0000 banana 183610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmenow: We checked several references and they all love her! I have a close friend of mine who sent her kids there and loved her as well. And you're spot on....I do feel more comfortable with the home-based daycare and it definitely fits my parenting style better. I like that she gives thorough summaries of each kid's days (more than just the usual he hate this much, pooped this much, etc). She'll make comments like "She hasn't been eating anything blue lately" or "He seems to like striped socks". I love that she's attentive like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183605 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:02:03 +0000 mrsmenow 183605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if you really trust the in home provider and they have good references (please, be sure to check with as many people as you can), then I think you should go for it.</p> <p>I personally have never found one that I trusted completely with my children so we have sent them to a daycare center. I always figure if one teacher is getting burnt out or is having a bad day then there is another teacher there to help. I always have hung around and played with my kids when I drop off and pick up and they are really good about their numbers and sticking ot the rules.</p> <p>The most important thing is finding whatever you are comfortable with and fits with your parenting style. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183589 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:42:25 +0000 LuLu Mom 183589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm bias but I voted home daycare, the more one-on-one attention is very important to me. There is plenty of time for a baby to learn, I want them to feel loved to begin with (not saying they aren't loved a center) they just get more attention at a private home-based. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183582 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:34:48 +0000 banana 183582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@andrea: Thanks! I think I will go with the home-based one. It's really hard when you do something different than all the other moms that you know. It's just so much easier to go with the herd. I'm not trying to Keep Up with the Joneses as much as I'm just trying to make sure I don't make some crazy mistake that I regret later on! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183580 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:31:52 +0000 banana 183580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grace: You're right. It's so hard to find good daycares and I hear lots of horror stories of such bad ones! If my son is loved and is having fun and learning, I guess that's all that matters in the end. The whole "speech delay" thing got me so worked up and worried that I kept obsessing about providing him with developmental activities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183579 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:30:16 +0000 Andrea 183579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: yeah, when I hear about everyone doing Montessori that makes me feel like maybe we should, too, but we are happy with our more play based daycare center. She learns a ton anyway and it is good for now. Anyway, it sounds like you really like the home based day care so go with your gut! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183575 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:28:40 +0000 Grace 183575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Normally, I would say to pick the centre, but your home-based one sounds amazing. It sounds quite structured as opposed to the glorified babysitting that some home daycares are. But bottom line, if you feel good about the home based one, then do it! You hear far to many bad daycare stories to go with one that you aren't sure of, just because it's the status quo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183568 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:20:50 +0000 banana 183568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.jacks: I was concerned about his delay in speech so we called a speech therapist and said he was delayed at least 6 months. I don't know if it's the bilingualism or something else. But we decided we needed to socialize him asap! Glad to hear that socialization will help him pick up his language skills quicker! At one point, I was became paranoid that he had developmental delays (like autism) and I self-diagnosed him by researching on the internet! UGH.</p> <p>@andrea: I guess you're right in that it does seem like i have a preference towards the home-based one. They know his speech needs and they live right next door to us (huge bonus btw!) so I feel like they would give him more attention than a center where they don't know him. I guess I'm just worried because ALL of my friends (and I literally mean all of them) send their kids to center-based DCs so I guess I was just unsure of what to do? Herd mentality I guess. =\</p> <p>@mrs.bee: At the end of the day, you're totally right. I've got to go with my gut. Charlie's daycare sounds a lot like the home-based one I'm considering. Glad he's thriving there! Makes me feel much better in knowing that a family environment can be just as great as a center environment. I'm going to try and find one of your posts about Charlie's daycare! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183511 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:47:56 +0000 plantains 183511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: If he is home with grandma half the time then I would say that at 2 yrs old my vote is definitely for the daycare centre. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183506 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:44:04 +0000 Mrs. Bee 183506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>listen to your gut feeling. our daycare only has 6-11 kids total (on various days) with 2 teachers and 1 assistant so it has a home-based feel, but i suppose it is more like a center.</p> <p>my friends are sending their kids to montessori and preschools like that, but we just decided to keep charlie in daycare. his daycare is probably not as academic focused, but we love the family feel of the daycare. we trust the teachers, they know each child so well, and charlie loves it there.</p> <p>i don't know if daycare will really make a big difference in whether a child has a competitive edge in the long run. we'll just force them to do supplemental workbooks at home anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183505 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:43:23 +0000 Andrea 183505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: I would be concerned about the 1:8 ratio, even with the floater. That sounds a bit chaotic? Also, did you ask each place how they can help him with his speech? That would be a big deciding factor for me, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183503 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:39:53 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 183503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The homebased seems like it's one of the best home-based I've ever heard of! I'd do that unless you have a strong gut feeling towards the center :)</p> <p>Edited to add that the interaction with the other kids is going to be the best language stimulation and he'll get that either way. If he's learning two languages, I wouldn't necessarily call him delayed... btw! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183498 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:37:34 +0000 banana 183498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@minnie_girl: He's 2 years old and has been raised at home by grandma. He definitely needs a lot of socialization (he lacks in social skills I think...although he loves kids) and is delayed in speech, which is why we decided to put him in a daycare program. Do you know what kinds of activities your nephew does at the home-based daycare that would be different/better than the center-based one? Thanks!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183493 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:34:45 +0000 banana 183493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@andrea: Oops, I shoulda clarified the ratio. It's 1:8 TEACHER/child but there's another supervisor who floats from room to room. So I guess technically the ratio is 1:4. But everytime I go visit, I don't really see the supervisor around. =\ The home-based does have a small little patio with a small jungle gym but they don't have room to "run around". We're only sending him my son there part time and my mom takes him to the park every other day. So he definitely gets lots of outdoor time (from my mom). </p> <p>I guess my question is how much difference there would in terms of developmental growth in either situation. Do more activities lead to better developmental growth?</p> <p>So torn! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183492 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:34:36 +0000 Minnie_Girl 183492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old is your son? That would be the major deciding factor for me...if my kid needed to get used to a school environment or if he was still learning a lot in a quieter home environment. </p> <p>My 2yo nephew currently spends several days a week at a home daycare. My sister chose to do that because the woman is a former kindergarten teacher and offers more developmental benefits than the big daycares. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183481 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:29:33 +0000 Andrea 183481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: I agree that the ratio 1:8 ratio seems high, even for older kids. My LO is 2 and the ratio is still 1:5. </p> <p>@banana: I also prefer daycare centers but it sounds like you really like the home center. Do they go outside at all? I think going outside is really good for them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183438 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:13:57 +0000 cyneswith 183438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All I learned at daycare was I hate lima beans, to keep my moles hidden, safety scissors are useless, and blocks hurt when people throw them at you. The only advantage might be the field trips. It sounds like the home daycare provider also offers enrichment stuff, as well as being a more comfortable environment and more parent-friendly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183431 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:11:06 +0000 purrpletulips 183431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's a tough decision (I couldn't vote because I'm torn on which is the best option. </p> <p>DD (2yo) is currently in a center based daycare which we love but with LO#2 arriving in September are looking to move both to a home-based primarily for financial reasons and splitting them up wouldn't work for our schedules. Our center sounds similar to the one you are looking at in that they have a developmentally focused curriculum that includes outside time twice a day; however we provide breakfast/lunch as they only provide snacks. They also charge for being late but not quiet as much as yours. The home-based I am looking at would most likely only be my two children and the owner's daughter (1yo) as the most kids she would ever watch was 4 (including her own); she does not have a set curriculum but has an education background and would teach DD basic skills like colors/numbers/letters/etc. Because of the limited number of children she is able to take field trips to places like the library, zoo, and playgrounds so outside time would happen, in addition she limits TV to very little which DH and I do at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183421 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:07:18 +0000 MamaMoose 183421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In general I prefer day care centers. I just feel like there is more supervision because there isn't just one adult there. I don't know, something about home daycares just make me nervous. I'm more trusting that day care centers do what they say they will do. However, I'm shocked at the 1:8 ration. I believe in TN you can't have more than 1:4 ratio. At our day care there are 4 children in each room. One teacher stays in that room all day, and then a third floats between that room and another room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183412 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:04:26 +0000 Rubies 183412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I chose daycare centre. The one we're sending LO to is wonderful and absolutely is everything I would have hoped for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183409 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:02:55 +0000 banana 183409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.wagon: I really DO love the daycare center because of all the activities and impressive staff. But when I walked into the home-based daycare, everyone was so happy and loving (like a family) that I fell in love with that too! haha. Such a hard decision! Thanks for your input!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183405 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:56:51 +0000 mrs. wagon 183405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I lied... I voted... daycare center... after I realized they have a great outdoor space. Ours takes our kids outdoors to the playground twice a day and it's AWESOME. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183404 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:56:10 +0000 mrs. wagon 183404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ooh. I can't vote. What I can say is that the daycare center will be better for structure and teaching him schedules and social skills since there are so many more kids. Since I know his age, I would lean more towards the center because I think it's great preparation for preschool and kindergarten. If he were younger I would DEFINITELY say home-based daycare... since younger kids don't really NEED that much enrichment and variety of activities. Plus not having to prepare lunch is such a huge bonus, and flexibility with pickup and all. We started Wagon Jr. in a daycare center at 18 months and it was perfect, and still is. We'll be starting Lil Miss Wagon much earlier than that, and I'm hoping to find a good home-based daycare to send her to until she turns 15 months, which is the starting point for our daycare center. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/loving-home-daycare-vs-activity-focused-daycare-center-help#post-183402 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:52:33 +0000 banana 183402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're deciding whether to send my son to a home-based daycare or a daycare center. I need your help!</p> <p>Home-based daycare:<br /> The home-based daycare is run by a very warm and loving lady who cooks healthy meals for the kids and is absolutely warm and loving. She has a teacher come in and sing/play/read to the books for several hours a day. She also makes sure there is music time, craft time, and learning time. My son already knows her and the kids there so he is very comfortable in the environment. There is a 1:5 adult/child ratio.</p> <p>Daycare Center:<br /> The daycare center we're looking at is a developmentally-focused daycare run by child ed professionals (so it's a lot more $$). The ratio is 1:8 (adult/child). They don't provide as much one on one attention but they have a GREAT outdoor area and provide lots of crafts and activities for the kids. They have professional teachers come in and teach arts/music/learning and do field trips once every few months. My son has never been there so he wouldn't necessarily be comfortable right off the bat. They are also stricter with timelines (the home-based daycare allows up to 30 minutes after closing before charging). The center charges $1 for every minute you're late picking up your child. The center doesn't provide lunch but they do provide breakfast and snacks.</p> <p>Sorry for the long post but what do you think about these 2 options? Do you have any opinions on which you think would be better? </p> <p>Thanks Bees! </p>