I guess it also depends what you are looking for in sending them to daycare. For me I chose a centre over FDC because I wanted it to be like going to school, there are more kids to interact with and for Tori that was what she needed, she needed to have the big group feel and the added stimulation, had it been for Liam only I probably would have looked into FDC because he was younger, didn't need the large group interact etc.
For L the advantages of a daycare centre is that they will run a Kindy program, so because he misses out on the cut off for Kindy for next year, he will be able to do a similar program through daycare. A similar thing would be offered at FDC just obviously on a smaller scale.
Being that he hasn't experienced any type of care etc yet, FDC might be a good option because it is smaller, less kids etc but still a very similar adult/child ratio.
I personally prefer small council run/ family run centres over the large chains- I have had Tori in all 3 types, she lasted 3 weeks at the large chain one because I wasn't happy with the number of kids etc We loved the council run one she went to, not as many flashy new toys or anything like that, but it was a small centre and had a lovely feel about it. The centre that they are at now is just wonderful, again it is nice and small, run by sisters and a mum and they have had bulk of the staff working their for longer than 5 years, some even for 9 years which to me indicated that the conditions were good etc.
The only way to find out though, is to go out and have a look around, go in and talk to the staff- ask if you can drop in for a visit, and maybe see if there are any people around your area that can give you recommendations because word of mouth is usually the way to go.
Hmmm I dunno if daycare is the right option, plus i have trust issues (LOL). Just from reports i have seen where the children were being abused.
I was wanting to send him so he could socialise because we dont get out much, and yes he's a few days off the kindy cut off. Though we are enrolling him in thriving 3's and kindergym for learning purposes.
Mostly though i need a day alone with ds2, and if i had a whole day, i could do the bulk of my cleaning while he has his nap. It's either that or get a cleaner in! At the moment i clean from 8pm when they are in bed, and its ridiculous.
My son has been in day care since 7 months & he loves it. I never considered FDC as a woman I worked with had issues with the carer taking her daughter out of the house & also feeding her food that she didn't want her to have. Your child will never be removed from a day care centre to go pick up other children from kinda or school or wherever (without your knowledge), nor will they be given food you don't want them to have.
Where my son goes he has his food provided. They play with the kids & sing & dance with them. He's been doing art for months now - the artwork is all over the room & I will be given a book full of it when he leaves daycare. They do assessments on him so I know how he's progressing. If they notice anything that they think is a little unusual they will tell you & if they think something needs the attention of a doctor they will mention that too.
I feel like the staff love my son. They celebrate milestones just as much as I do. If he's done or said anything they haven't heard or seen before they will be busting with excitement to tell me when I arrive to pick him up.
My son is a very social little man. He had his first access visit with his dad on the weekend & had a ball & I think he was able to cope with this so well because he's used to being tended to by different people.
Firstly, all adults working with children, even as volunteers, have to have a CRB check (to see if they have a criminal record), which puts everyones' minds at ease.
DS has his food there, but as he has a special diet I have to take in goat's milk every week for him. Also if they're making food they let me know so I can take in anything special, although they provide dairy-free cheese for snacks and the caterers make DS a dairy and nut free meal every day.
You can't stop boys from being boys, but the centre has no guns or swords or any fun toys at all. So that's "gentle" (I have no problem with swords and guns aren't an issue yet, though DH will probably enjoy waterguns etc, but would class myself as gentle).
I chat to the carers and realised that they want DS to be DS and have fun, they don't want to mould him into who he isn't. They love him and love watching him develop into himself. They praise a lot for politeness too. It's great to hear a carer say as she finishes handing out the fruit how nice it was that everyone said "thank you" to her.
They do take the children out to feed ducks or go to the park (less and less now, I've noticed) so it wasn't uncommon to get there and see a note saying "gone XXX, call this number" - but I picked DS up at odd times. I quite like that, DS gets to do different things! But I do know that a childminder wouldn't leave that note on the door of her home.
The staff both play with the children and let them get on with it. Like I do. They read and they play and they direct role-play... or join in with it. Like I do. I can direct DS to play monsters or he can tell me he wants to make coffee for me and we pretend that. Same at Nursery.
They do teach things, but appropriately. When the babies have their day naps after lunch (most children fall into this pattern - they do child-led naps etc) then they do the alphabet and things like that - but as the babies like singing and dancing, they do that with the babies too.
Questions I would ask:
What do I need to provide for my child? (This should cover food, nappies, change of clothes etc)
What activities usually occur during the day or week? (ie painting on Wednesday or to the park at 10am every day)
Do you follow the child's pattern or does he fit in with you?
What impact do the other children have on my child? (Do they all play together, are the older and younger kept apart, what about loos etc)
Settling in sessions - some centres offer places that give you two hours in the centre with your child observing, then two sessions of leaving for up to two hours and they call you if your child is upset by it.
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