Although many parents would like to be able to stay home with their children especially in the critical years, that isn’t always an option for some. When parents do have to return to the workforce, they are left with the decision to either put their child in a family child care setting or a larger daycare center. There are pros and cons to each and parents should decide based on what will work out best for their needs. After families choose the type of child care that will work out in their best interest, they make calls and set up appointments to speak to the persons in charge and plan a visit to the home or center to see how things are ran. Since all daycare settings are ran differently, this will help them decide on the best possible care they can obtain for their child. To begin the process in looking for child care, below is a list of pros and cons for home daycares and daycare centers.
Home daycare
Pros
- Family atmosphere
- Less expensive
- A small groups setting means there are less children that one adult is caring for.
- More personal attention than large daycare settings.
- More flexible with drop-off and pickup times.
Cons
- If provider is sick there may not be a substitute or back up care available.
- Some home providers have no formal education in early childhood
- May not be licensed and in compliance with safety regulations
- The mixed age groups mean providers must accommodate children at different age levels and most of the time there is only one provider in charge.
Daycare Centers
Pros
- More adults present to make sure no one abuses or neglects your child.
- If one teacher is sick there will be substitutes
- Formal education and training
- Most daycare and preschool settings have a curriculum they follow.
Cons
- Lower adult to child ratios.
- Non-flexible hours.
- Firm on set rules and routines.
- Less personal attention.
- More costly.
- Will not care for a sick child.
If parents need child care they may contact Children’s Home and Aid in Granite City Illinois for a list of providers in the Southern Illinois region.
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