Re: Typical Cost for Child Care in Fairfax/Montogmery Cnty?
Posted by:
ffxn8v
()
Date: February 02, 2008 10:23AM
why me Wrote:
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> Based on our personal experience, I would be
> inclined to avoid the home based providers. Yes
> the county checks them out, but they can visit
> them only so often.
>
> Back in the late 90's we had our two girls in a
> home based day care. We checked the provider out
> very carefully before hand - she got glowing
> reviews from the county as well as the current
> familes that used her. Not too long later we
> learned from a 3rd party of some activities that
> were putting the lives of the childen in danger.
> We ended up at Burke Country Day school, a place
> we were happy with and felt that it was given more
> oversite than a home based provider.
>
> That said, I soon realized that I was the best one
> to raise my girls. Fortunately my wife has a
> pretty good job with the govt. and I have been a
> stay at home dad ever since. It took a lot of
> sacrifices on our part (old cars, no cable or
> satellite, etc) but it is truly the best job I
> have ever had.
>
> That said, it is not a job for everyone, and in
> this area it can be hard to survive on one
> income.
>
> Just my .02 cents.
> >
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Very cool you get to be home - some days I wish it was my wife working and me being home all day, but...
I have met a few home day care providers and one REALLY stood out as awesome! Imagine someone who took the time to not only get licensed properly, but also seemed to reinvest into their business. I mean, taoys and learning materials in a set-up that would rival any comglomerate's operation, but with the care that one would expect from an individual.
While it sounds like you had a decent experience at the place you went to, I would say they are either really on top of things, or you got lucky. Again, I do not want some stoner, leftover boozing, teenager looking after my kids under the guise of a day care facility. I know they are just "helpers" and there is (should) be an adult there at all times. But in my opinion, there is less of an incentive to "care" and more to just get through another day at the conglomorate.
Maybe I am wrong... My gut feeling says otherwise.
A home day care place, if looks like there isn't much structure, then there probably isn't. You are basically getting a high-priced babysitter. But if they offer breakfast and lunch with snacks in between - no, not pop tarts either, then yo may be onto the right place.
interview, Interview, INTERVIEW. Put as much into this (or more) as you would in a job search - these are YOUR KIDS we are talking about.
...and don't get me started about the one day care center that left (locked) a kid in a room, and left for the day. where is the care in that?