Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Switcho Chango

The other day I was on Facebook and saw a fellow mother from the daycare complaining about a supplies fee. She pointed out that we already have to pack lunch and bring diapers and wipes, so what "supplies" are there?
I was a little more rational in the fact that they wash clothes when they get dirty instead of sending home wet gross clothes. They wash blankets and other stuff you leave there. So I could see a supplies fee for stuff like that.
Then she went on and on about the new Administrator and how unhappy the staff is, etc. This worried me a little because - unhappy staff means unhappy kiddos.

Basically all this made me sit back and evaluate exactly where we take our son for 9 hours a day.

It's a little on the dingy side.
They are giving it a face lift, which will help. It's also located in a portion of the neighborhood that's a little on the... transitional side. The next building, which is for 2-5 year olds, is located across from a Stop and Go type of place. Nuh. Uh.

I remember the first time I toured it, I called Lee and told him "I don't know, it's a little old and dingy" and then he went by on the way home and said he really liked it. However we were pretty desperate to get a place because Infant Care is hard to come by. I loved the lady that was with him, Lucy, and I felt like she had his back.

Now I feel we have let the year go by just on auto-pilot. Don't get me wrong, I have had hard days leaving him and he had a hard transition this last time to the Toddler room. I have never felt like they aren't sweet to him. In fact in the last room (6-12month) I could tell they just loved him.

Ever since he went to this Toddler Room, I haven't been as happy. I also feel like Logan is a little behind in the language and fine motor skills and I don't see that they really work with him that much. It's almost like it's more Child Care and less Learning. Know what I mean?

So I am now obsessed with looking at new daycare's and I have narrowed it down to 2.

The #1 choice is Big Little School, which is in a pretty convenient place for both Lee and I for drop off and pick up. It's highly rated and looks pretty snazzy.

#2 choice is The Childhood Center. This is located a stone's throw from my office, which would put drop off and pick up almost 100% on my shoulders, and would require the poor guy to endure traffic with me everyday.

What are your thoughts? I will take any and all advice!

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4 comments:

Hi, I'm Missy! said...

Such a big decision!! I like the one closer to your work. I like all the information that their site provides. Pics, blog of info, etc.

On a side note, I def do not think Logan is behind in any of those areas! I was super impressed with his "Thank You" video!!

Good Luck with your decision. How has little man been feeling with his new tubes??

Anonymous said...

I like the second one close to your work, but I'm just looking at the websites :) I know that having to do all the pick up and drop offs would put a major burden on me, so I would opt for #1 in the end.

Although the onsite pediatrician is kind of selling me on #2!

As far as the language and development stuff, I think that with Jameson as well pretty often and he's in a Montessori daycare. I have to think they're working with him, so instead I am thinking that it's more just cause he's a boy and exploring things and not concentrating on language and fine motor skills as much. :)

Anonymous said...

I wish I had better advice for you. It feels trite to say you have to go with your gut. Whichever place just feels better, you know?

Alice said...

I don't know if you have any church programs in your hometown that offer daycare. I send Colton to Small World Learning Center. It has been around for over 30 years and it is affiliated with an Assembly type church. I love it! They taught Colton sign language before he could talk and even though I work with him a lot, I know they teach him so much too. They are also very consistent with naps, snacks, etc. I love routine! Maybe you could look into something like that. It is a little cheaper than a normal daycare center but a tad more than in-home daycare.

P.S. I didn't even click on your links yet so if they are church based programs, I apologize. Oh and the church programs don't push God on you, in case you have different beliefs than we do. We are non-denominational and they have never tried to make us go to their home church. They do verses and what-not with the kids though and they do incorporate God into some of their teachings.