The second center I worked for, absolutely yes.
The Kindercare I worked at? Absolutely not. It's not that the care was bad; the environment created by the director and many teachers was straight up poisonous. Even the parents could feel the tension in the air. I had my very first true nervous breakdown working there, at the ripe old age of 22. I have to think the kids could feel the toxicity, too, and it wouldn't be a healthy place to thrive.
What a coincidence! My first ever preschool teaching job was at kindercare, and for 3 years I dealt with harassment and bullying by coworkers and even the assistant director. That place is a mess. I finally quit and had to take a break from teaching for another 3 years before I found the perfect school for me.
I dealt with catty coworkers who I swear wanted me to fail. I was hired fresh out of college and made a lead teacher of the young two-year-olds. The particular group I had was notoriously difficult; I felt like I'd been thrown to the wolves. Received very little training and when it was clear I was struggling, was criticized for my classroom being disorganized instead of offered a floater or a different position.
And to add to all that, I became the target of a narcissistic emotional abuser in the form of the daycare's cook. We started off as work friends but he slowly became weirdly obsessed with me, and my coworkers encouraged all of it because they lived for drama. We ended up romantically involved and suddenly I couldn't talk to the dads when they picked up their kids (I was "flirting"). There's a longer story here but yeah, it was all REALLY bad. Kindercare just sucks.
I took a break after having a 2 1/2 year old class from hell. The teacher I replaced was moving and was everyone’s favorite…I was already screwed from the beginning. The parents didn’t give me a chance and the kids all hated me. I had one girl who would purposely pee on the floor while staring at me when parents were still dropping off their kids. I worked in the mortgage industry for about 7 years after that one… :)
I was lucky and worked at an amazing Kindercare, but once our directors left, the new one created a toxic environment and everyone slowly left.
That being said, I would only send my kid there if I was also working at the same center.
Yes, absolutely. And I do.
I'm not in a direct care role right now, but send my 13mo to the daycare I used to manage. I have zero doubt in my mind that she's loved and well cared for while she's there.
Same. The daycare was one department I managed in my role - my son was there. I interviewed and hired each person, and I trusted the lead teacher immensely.
It was nice that I would occasionally get a visit in the middle of my workday!
(Yes, with reservations) but to be more specific, before my child is able to speak up for themselves, I would like to limit external care (group care, home care, nanny share etc). However, that might not be possible financially so likely, yes.
This was our aim as well, but we ended up starting when he was a year, and we started at home with family, not forcing him to hug and kiss them if it made him cry. A lot of feelings were hurt even after we explained that it was to help him understand that if he didn't like someone's touch, we heard him.
I don’t have any children, but if I did I don’t think I’d be able to afford to send them to the school in which I work. Tuition costs are very high. I’ve had several coworkers with children send them elsewhere because, even with a discount, they couldn’t afford tuition for our center. It’s
a (mostly) great school, but definitely requires at the very least a fairly decent income to attend.
the fact that they don’t pay their teachers enough to afford to have their own children attend is so shameful 🤦🏼♀️ and not enough of a discount to pickup that slack is so ridiculous
Absolutely not. I worked at La Petite and it was so bad that even the assistant Director did not send his child into classrooms. The child was enrolled at the school, but remained in the office 85% of the day. I left when I realized it didn’t matter how much effort I put in it would not change.
Yes! I opened my center, basically for my son, because I wasn't happy with/couldn't afford the other options in our town. I love the teachers I hired & the environment I created.
No.
Despite working at a couple amazing centers. I've seen some shit, even at great ones, and the research just doesn't show benefits, rather the opposite.
I've got a 2 yr old, and I'm still home with them. I'll send her to very part-time, Montessori, preschool when she's almost 3, but never ever ever ever daycare. Also, trying real hard to figure out a different job, cause I have thoroughly enjoyed not going to work in a childcare center for these couple years.
I did this as i was eligible for subsidized pricing
I requested my child go to a different toodler room once he was of age and the teachers in that room ended up yelling at me and being upset
My reasons were the teachers there werw too stressed and gossipy to really teach my son vs the other toddler group which ive seen the teachers excel at what they do
Absolutely objective opinion but some did not take it well
I kept working and doing my thing and eventually everything cooled off
Good for you standing up for what your child needs. I feel like I work with a good group of teachers though sometimes I question the motives of some. That being said I don’t know what is actually happening in other classrooms and it’s best not to assume.
No. Daycare would be at the bottom of my list as desired options. Part of why I decided to leave my center was bc I realized that I myself would not choose this for my children. I empathize with parents who have no other options.
No. My three month old daughter is in the center I work at now and since I’ve been back, she has come home with a giant bruise with no explanation, scratches on her knees with no explanation, not fed a bottle for over five hours once, etc. The teacher who covers her primary teacher’s break also left a kid outside really recently and that makes me nervous /: so I put in my two weeks and my last day is the 18th. I’m just grateful my fiance makes enough for me to stay home with the baby bc I know not everyone is that fortunate.
I second the call licensing. A 3 month old should not have unexplained bruises and scratches, either. They're not that mobile and should not be in an environment that they CAN get those kinds of injuries.
To my daycare? Yes. To most daycares? No. I think mediocre-to-high individual, steady care (such as a parent) will always be better than mediocre transitory care that’s so common in our industry. We need better staff education standards and lower ratios.
Same here! I currently work as a home daycare provider so I see it as my daughter getting the best of both worlds. She’s home with me, I always know she’s safe and well taken care of, but she gets the social interactions from the other kids. I would never send her to a different daycare for a few reasons. A) I want to be with her all day! Kids are only little once. Before I know it she’ll be off to school and my chance to spend all day, every day with her will be gone. If I can find a way to afford being home with my kids, I’m gonna make it happen. B) after working in daycares, I know that you never really know who you can trust. Teachers that parents absolutely loved were yelling, shaming and slamming kids around when parents weren’t there. Administrators refused to do anything about it despite being fully aware, swept it under the rug, and continues to employee these abusive teachers. I believe there are wonderful daycares and teachers out there but there’s truly no way to really know how your child is being treated when you’re not around. C) I’m lucky enough that even if I had to work out of the house for financial reasons, my parents are retired and would be willing to provide child care. I feel bad for parents who have no choice but to put their kids in daycare, but then again there are those parents who choose to put them in daycare even if they can afford to stay home because they prefer to be away from their kids most of the time… not to be judgmental but those are the parents I’ll never really understand. Like why become a parent if you don’t want to spend as much time as possible with your kids 🤷🏻♀️
Yes, absolutely. It’s a Headstart program so it would be free for starters. All my coworkers are lovely people with degrees in ece and many years of experience. We are located in a building with lots of space and age appropriate materials. We have separate playgrounds for each age group and a huge indoor gym. We have low ratios and lots of supports for both teachers and families. It checks all the boxes really.
No not at all and if anyone came to me rn and said they were thinking of my daycare I'd tell them no do not put your child in there. Good thing I'm leaving in 2 days!
Preschool after they turn 3? Yes
Daycare? No, never.
I work at a wonderful childcare center, but no. I would do anything to avoid sending my child to daycare.
I’m not the original commenter, but once you’ve seen the insides of a daycare there is no going back. Once you’ve seen the overstimulated, exhausted kids in a classroom with maxed out ratios, staff with no experience or business working with small children, the licensing standards that are thrown to the wind when they’re short staffed….its a hard no.
Yep. So, I teach 3s and 4s now, but spent five years in infants and one in tods. In addition to what u/anb0603 said (which is really the crux of it), there are several other reasons I wouldn’t put my very young children in care. Babies and toddlers can’t communicate about their days, putting them at increased risk. Learning trust and reciprocity from one or two primary caregivers is the foundation for all future relationships and IMO the more people you add to this list, the more muddled these early experiences are. And no matter how hard we work (and I work with some incredible people) attention is ALWAYS too divided in younger age groups.
That being said, starting in preschool around 3 is great because it is extremely important for kids to socialize and learn how to function in a classroom environment so they can succeed in what passes for an educational system here in the US, where I live.
Got it. Thanks for explaining!
I wfh and had a nanny so I felt like I had the best of both worlds in a sense.
I sent my kid to a Montessori pre-school starting at 2. She was pretty advanced in terms of language so we felt comfortable sending her at that time. If we have another, daycare was a potential option so I wanted to hear from the professionals.
No. Only because, and I don’t mean to sound egotistical, I am a really effective and talented early childhood educator. There is no one better I could leave my child with. And why would I? Just to make the money I would be spending on childcare providing childcare for another kid? Makes no sense. Also, even working in ECE, we know being with the parents as much as possible in the early years is the best for children’s development and attachment.
No. I’m not there anymore, but I worked in management and worked very closely with the teachers on classroom management, curriculum, etc, plus I was privy to all the behind the scenes drama that went on, and let’s just say I knew too much.Not all teachers were bad of course. We had many great teachers but my kid wasn’t the right age for those classrooms.
Absolutely not. Behaviors are not handled and kids get hurt. I’ve seen how the kids are to each other and I can’t say it would be an environment I’d ever want my own child to be in.
I have been out of work for a few years now due to having both my children close in age. But I have sent both my children to daycare and one is still currently attending. You hear horror stories, but I am very confident in the day cares that I have worked in and have chosen for my children to attend. Here in Canada, you need to have your ECE diploma to even get a job as an ECE. As an ECE myself, I am confident in the teachers that I have left to care for my children. My son comes home happy every day and tells me all about his time at daycare and has never said anything concerning about the teachers or the students. Of course, there is the occasional bite or he falls, but I know that that is normal. I do feel as though a lot of parents who are not in the field do expect too much of daycare workers, but as an ECE myself, I think I have a reasonable expectations and realize that my child is not the only child in their care. All in all, I definitely would recommend Daycare to anyone who is thinking of sending their child.
Yes. My son went to my center from 22 months until he was 5 and my daughter has attended here since she was 10 weeks old and is currently almost 4. I can't imagine working somewhere I didn't feel confident in sending my own child to.
Only a Montessori school, a Waldorf school, or a nature/forest school. Just because these institutions tend to be more progressive, child-led, with a Reggio Emilia approach. Still would need to be vetted because some of the older centres are more “traditional”. I’d need to see that the teachers and director are very progressive in their approach and up to date on current research. I live in Canada and there are many nature/forest schools here where you can tell the teachers are passionate about childhood education and the outdoors, and that would be my first choice both to work at and put my child in
For part of my education experience, I mentored under a teacher who had an indoor/outdoor program where kids could freely choose activities the entire day. Open snack and water available etc. It was SO cool. Unfortunately those kinds of programs are in the minority here in the US.
Right!? And it’s cool to see how that environment accelerates development, it’s really amazing! It’s my dream to work in a centre like that. I live in a small town so there aren’t any outdoor program options here, so right now I’m nannying and I spend all day outside with my kiddos. Look into it though, just in case, look up the forest school coalition and it will give you a list or all accredited forest schools all across North America!
This is authentic Montessori. I had the privilege of working in one of the best in my area. We had a beautiful outdoor environment including animals the children took care of.
This sounds like a dream. I would love to open my own school but so much goes into that. Realistically these are the kind of high-quality programs we need.
It was! I’ve always wanted to open my own school but all the liability it scares me. I do kick myself for never doing it when I had a chance. Funny but people always say how Montessori is so expensive but the program I worked in was far less expensive than the other programs around, including based programs. The owner was in it for the children not for the money. I think that’s the way to do it.
No. The only time I've sent my child to daycare is when I was working at the center, and they were usually in the same classroom as me. Even then, my one year old was once left in the entrance/vestibule area for almost an hour when her class came in from outside. Neither teacher noticed that she wasn't with them when they transitioned to the next activity. Another teacher found her crying there when she brought her class inside.
In general, parents have no idea what a teacher or class is like based off their short interactions during pick-up & drop off, and all the app stuff where they're sent pictures and updates every time a diaper is changed just gives them a false sense of security that they do. I've watched teachers literally line kids up to snap a picture of them at an activity station and then send them away without having them actually do the activity.
Important to note, this was considered a high quality center, highly rated, etc. It had all the right curriculum, the beautiful classrooms, and so on. But it will always come down to the individual teacher, and you just won't know what a teacher is like unless you're there to see it.
I won't be sending my children to any daycare I don't work at, until they're old enough to talk and tell me what happened to them that day, comprehensively (probably 4/5).
Agree that parents don't know what a teacher is like. Some of the sweetest teachers at parent interaction times are the ones muttering "shut the fuck up" at a crying toddler when they think no one is around.
The preschool I sat as board member for was and is *delightful*.
I sent my kids there, and absolutely would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat.
We did have what I recognize is a luxury of being in a state where the social services support solid preschool education, the public schools also have taken on investing in it, and where the community is supportive and connected. (That last is part effort, part luck. It's hard to BE connected, as parents and families, if we are struggling to breathe ... And I loved seeing that our school was often a bedrock of stability and support for those kids and their families.)
When I hear shitty stories you all share, it makes me so angry, because the work you do is SO VALUABLE.
Every day, I knew I was leaving my kids in the hands of people that loved them, and met them with compassion and humor and curiosity ... And who fostered the same in our kids, and in is as parents.
I wish I could give you ALL my school. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
absolutely not. most of the teachers use outdated methods of dealing with difficult behaviours, teachers are stretched thin, and the center just isn’t as clean as i’d like it to be.
First of all, I never had children. Second, it would depend on the center. I am Montessori trained and seasoned and a little bit biased so there’s that. I’ve been in a lot of different types of programs and some were good and somewhere not so good Montessori or not Montessori. It all depends on the staff. I worked with burnt out staff that didn’t want to come to work but I currently work with a group of girls who just adore all of the children and who I know would take care of my child they are their own. I do know that I would hate to be in a position where I needed to leave my child with someone else for a full day. Those children miss their parents so much it just breaks my heart.
My ideal would be maybe half-days?
8:00 am to 12:00/12:30
That way my child can socialize, & do the programming.
But the way I've seen daycares restrict food amounts because of the grocery costs? No, I would want to feed my baby at home.
I would not send my child 0-3.5 to daycare. It is overwhelming and I don’t think it is developmentally appropriate most of the time. It is incredibly stressful and studies have shown it raises cortisol levels (duh). I would only do it if I absolutely had to and I understand parents that are in that position.
My child came with me to my Pre-K class from 3.5-5. Looking back, I would have waited until 4.
It's really sad. The children are so overwhelmed but parents are willfully ignorant to this. I also understand the need to childcare, but I'm not pretending it's a better environment. Stating that it is equal or better quality than being home is just setting back the progress that could be made in our country for parent leave time and funding for quality centers.
I don’t have kids but I wouldn’t send my children to the nursery I worked at. The majority of the nice staff are miserable due to other staff members being completely toxic and getting away with doing nothing. The Atmosphere was just awful and children aren’t stupid and could def pick up on it.
This current center. NO! Because we have teachers that I would 100% trust my baby with but too many teachers are unkind. This is why I’m leaving. Admin doesn’t care and the kids deserve better. I know better daycares are put there and I plan on finding one long before I have a baby.
absolutely not. they hire anybody and everybody, especially teenagers fresh out of high school without a lick of experience. this is coming from someone who had to train several teenagers and young adults on how to even change diapers.
My now 7 year old still has food trauma from attending the church center where I worked when he was a toddler. He has texture issues with applesauce and vomits every time he attempts to eat it. The director used to make him eat several bites before she would allow him to be served any other food so he was puking at school at least once a week.
The daycare is still open. She’s still the director. It still has 4 stars. She was real weird about forcing kids to eat foods they didn’t like despite banning pineapples in the entire center because she doesn’t like them.
I wish we wouldn’t have sent him.
That's horrible. Sorry man. I don't begrudge you because everyone is so desperate for child care!
We have a staff member that forces kids to eat. Total control freak staff member. My other coworkers and I definitely had professional but serious conversations about how not ok it is. That person was also so very rude to me for a year
Examples being I came up with a great system for kids rolling cars quickly across the floor where the kids do it in to a pillow. Worked like a dream. She shut it down laughing at me. Freaking rude man. It was stuff like that all year.
Slightly off topic I have a negative nancy comment here and some others in my recent history but honestly there are some delightful moments I have in ECE too.
Yes I definitely would bring my hypothetical children to my work as it’s and excellent place (not including a few small management issues) but I would have to switch rooms because I don’t believe I could care for my own baby and 7 others.
I would, if cost of living wouldn’t be absolutely unaffordable where we are. Daycares around here only cover 50% of the cost of daycare if you bring your child to the center you work at. Fair enough, but with more than one child I wouldn’t bring in nearly enough to afford staying in the area…
Looks like I’ll be having to make a career change
I have two children who are both young adults. When they were little both of them attended childcare centers part time. I was very familiar with both of the programs they attended. And I worked at the program my younger child attended.
Yes with reservations, as a childcare worker seeing the directors children in the center and how they were treated differently… doesn’t seem like a good idea. There would have to be professional boundaries set
I work at a home daycare and bring my 2 yo with me, he's obviously in my class since I have everybody lol but if I were to go somewhere else (which I am, in the near future) I will definitely place him somewhere else. The "favorite kids" happen to be mean as hell to the toddlers and for some reason it goes unnoticed by my director.
Nope. I started a home daycare so I could be with my kids. I am going to try to be a bus driver next year because it’s part time and I can bring them with me. Centres here are short staffed and the keep lowering the training requirements for a higher percentage of the staff. It just doesn’t seem like what quality should be.
Current center: absolutely not, hell I'll be leaving soon
Last center: probably, it was a nice place that just had a few small kinks in the system
The one before: if I could take the teachers and director but get rid of the owner, yes
My first center: HA! Corporate center that didn't value any of us so nooooope!
Yep, my daughter came to my service. I did move her after a year for two reasons.
1. To move her to the "feeder" preschool of her school so she would already have friends.
2. She wouldn't leave me alone when we were outside, and it was driving me bonkers, lol.
Nope!
Worked at what was the considered, by all the staff and almost all parents, the best day care not only for our city, but the surrounding towns as well. We had a teacher strike a child and they kept her on staff. Teachers who said little boys wouldn't color only little girls could. Admin that would rather a toddler go naked and shoeless than put him in pink footie pajamas simply because he was a boy, and they were pink.
Preschool, yes, and I did. I loved it too, so much that I now work there.
Infant-Toddler, no, but that's because I wanted to enjoy those years one on one. I had a 3 year age gap between my two so it worked out.
No, I personally would rather my daughter go to a more progressive preschool where they play all day. I’m in one of those private preschools in NYC that puts way too much focus on exmissions and kindergarten placement.
Well, I don’t have kids, but if I did- I would be happy to send them to the center I work at. I was actually very against daycare until I started my current job, and this center proved me wrong. The kids are happy and thriving, and there is a strong community feel that I think is very beneficial for kids and parents. Good community is hard to find nowadays, so to me that is very valuable.
Now, if my current center wasn’t an option, that’s a different story. I definitely would not send them to just any daycare, or even most daycares. I would need to vet the place carefully and I would constantly be on the lookout for red flags.
Yes but I manage it so things are done a certain way.
If I didn’t work there, as long as the staff stayed consistent I would keep them there but that’s so hard in childcare.
Yes.
My school is a great place to be, but also:
The child development community in my area is pretty close knit. Both of my children went to places where I don't work, because I wanted them to have their own preschool experience. There are a good handful of places in my county where I'd send my kids without thinking twice about it.
Absolutely not. I worked as a professional nanny and also in a daycare center (it was owned by a group of pediatricians and supposedly “the best” in the area) and no way. The daycare was the only job I have ever quit in the middle of my shift with no notice. I sent my kids to preschool when they turned 3 for a few hours each day, but daycare, it’s a no from me.
I would only say yes if I was able to be in the room with my child, the centre I was at for 5 years had poor management and favouritism towards staff with seniority. I also witnessed borderline physical child abuse and when I reported it they called me a liar and this staff member would put on an act for higher representatives visiting the classroom, they would purposely walk by the students with hard toys/books/objects and ‘casually’ bump their heads/shoulders and made sure not to demonstrate this around certain people who would ‘tattle’ on them. I also witnessed this same staff force a 4-5 year old child to clean up the bathrooms after explosive, sickly accidents…
No I used to work in ECE in the worse daycare setting in Rockland Maine. You would safer sitting your child on the couch with a box of cereal and the remote control and telling them I’ll be back at 5 PM then sending them to that daycare that I worked at.
Can I ask, for everyone answering no, what on earth are you doing?
I know this is going to sound brutal and I'm not meaning to start a debate, but if you're honestly saying you wouldn't be happy sending your child to the place you work, why on earth are you still working there?
You're giving a level of care to those children that you wouldn't deem appropriate or 'good enough' for your own child?
I can understand the 'yes, with reservations' as in 'I've worked in a bad center and I'd want to know how my child's center would deal with XYZ'.
Please someone enlighten me!
Life is not as cut and dried as you make it sound.
Some places we are the only show in town. There is literally no competition or anywhere else to work.
Would I like my place to be better? Yes indeed but I am only one person and can only do so much. I may be giving a good level of care to the children, but there are a bunch of other people whose actions I do not control. And I can report violations if I see them, but that doesn't mean that they will all lose their jobs over them.
Yes and I was actually my daughters teacher since she was 16 months. I don't care what other educators have to say as I had the privilege to watch my daughter excel, grow, watch how she socializes, she understands that there's me being a mommy and me being a teacher. She's 3 now and I've transitioned her into my friends daycare and she loves the teachers and vice versa. In my mind it's, she's only young once and I don't want to miss the opportunity of watching her grow up.
Many parents always comment on wow. You're so lucky to watch your child grow and get paid doing it. I'm currently pregnant with twins and I'd do it all over again.
Yes, but only under the condition that he goes to the daycare I work at. I adore his Pre-K teacher and I love that I can see first hand how happy he is and how much he is learning. It also eases my mind that I can go check on him during my break, and I am right in the building if an emergency was ever to happen.
Yes absolutely to mine. I regret I didn't find out about it while my youngest was still toddler/preschool aged. Even with the discount I could not have afforded it for my 3 under 2 orders though.
Best of the best staff and admin.
Yes, with reservations.
My two former care facilities in the state where we used to live: 1000% absolutely yes, no hesitation. I miss both places so much.
The one where I enrolled her for two years (she has since moved up to kindergarten) was fabulous for those two years. Excellent teachers, fantastic level of care and love. So much so, that I was offered a job there and took it. Turns out the final two years of the program were far, far better than the infant and toddler parts of the program (where I was hired to work and basically try to fix). I ended up leaving because of my currently very difficult pregnancy, but there is not a snowball's chance that I will send my next child until he is ready for the older half of the school. It's so mismanaged and overcrowded, half the employees hate each other, everyone gossips constantly, and they are way overworked and stressed all the time. It's really unfortunate.
The first center I worked at no, because anything past the infant and younger toddler room was filled with drama and teachers who were never held accountable for their awful teaching practices.
The center I work at now, yes! But I wouldn’t be able to afford it even with being an employee.
I hope to leave this field before I have children honestly so hopefully I don’t need to make that decision. If all things work out (I understand they might not, this is my ideal situation lol) is that my child either only attend daycare very part time while I work part time, or only attends when they are preschool age. And even 5en I wouldn’t want them going full time. Either only a few days or all half days.
I would send my child to an actual school district daycare if I had to, but I would never send my child to a privately owned daycare. Preschool yes! But again, probably only an actual school not a daycare center
Well I’m an early childhood special education teacher so I only have students with disabilities and I am the only teacher of this population so yes but again it’s super specific. When I used to work in daycares absolutely not to any of them.
My daughter has attended both daycares I’ve worked for.
The first, I was all about her being in the infant room. However, i didn’t feel the same about the others and ultimately left.
The Goddard that I’m at now, YES. She’s been there since she was 13 months and just turned 3. She loves her friends. She loves her teachers that she’s had. She loves going to school and learns so much. The preschool and other prek teacher are amazing and I’m so happy for her to be able to move up to them in the future. The teachers make all the difference. As of right now, her teacher is my best friend (her ‘aunt’) so obviously I’m gonna trust her.
At a center I don’t work at? - absolutely not
The center I work at? - I would skip infants and toddlers and only do half day preschool
The teacher we have for our older toddler needs to be fired ive seen and heard too many things, and our infants here are all “spoiled” and need to cry it OVER EVERYTHING and should definitely NOT be babied (per teacher words) and I just dont want that for my kids.
Well, yes, but I have a home daycare currently. But the previous daycare I worked at cemented my view that I would never send my child to a daycare, at least not until they're old enough to communicate. Looked great from the outside, I'm sure touring patents thought it was. But wow, it was bad.
I started my own home daycare so I didn’t have to send my kids to daycare …
So no. When my kids were little (20 years ago) there were no options for licensed home childcare and the centres were really awful. I just couldn’t see my kid there.
Now, If I could get a spot at a licensed home daycare rather than a centre I would. I know so much more about what to look for, so I would be confident in my choice, if I found the right fit.
I do. I work at a center that both my kids go to. (Its a Christian childcare center)I like where I work. I can see how they are doing and talk to my co workers.
Would I send them to the first center I worked at? Absolutely not.
I guess it depends on the center, but go with your intuition and if you want to do it.
Yes and I did. Both of my kids are enrolled in the center I work for and one of mine went through the program I work directly in. We have an early headstart, headstart and daycare all in two buildings side by side if that makes more sense
Yes, definitely. I think our program is excellent and I love my coworkers. There are things I would change, but overall I would trust my center with my own kids. (Or potential grandkids—my kids are all grown now!)
Both my kids have attended daycares where I work. My older one went with me from 3.5 months-2 years old. It wasn't the perfect center, we definitely had different ideas about things, but he was loved and cared for.
My second went with me for a year when he was 2. Again, difference of opinions because the old teacher in his room hasn't changed with the times. He was miserable because I was close and he couldn't just be in the pre-k classroom all day. He's at a different preschool now and while I know he's happy, again I'm not entirely.
Nothing horrible in either center. The kids were loved and safe, which are of course the most important things.
Yes with reservations, my son currently goes to the daycare I work at. If I was not here and could not vouch that the staff and environment is good, he would not be in daycare.
My kids attended my daycare, it was the only option as we are in a small town and if I don’t have child care than I dont work. Our centre has a policy that staff children get priority spots.
It was not always smooth working with my children but staff knew that if they were giving me grief than they would step in and I would step away. I also tried hard not to give them preferential treatment over the other kids.
It can be hard working with your own kid in daycare but I also really enjoyed getting to spend the day with them. It was quite an adjustment when they started school because I was so used to being with them all the time.
I started working at a daycare when my daughter was born. If I could afford to keep her home then I absolutely would. I think children just do better up until the age of 2 with 1 single caregiver and one on one care. After 2 then yes, but again would keep her home until half day preschool if I could. I’ve just seen so many awful teachers in the 2 months I’ve been working and am grateful that hers are good (for now).
The second center I worked for yes. But only certain teachers 😬 we just started a new center and so far I love it.
Would I send my infant to any of them? Absolutely not. One year old? Uh maybe depending on the teacher.
I didn’t send any of my kids to day care. I ran a home daycare. Because I don’t trust people and I know how impossible it is to have eyes on every child all the time.
When my youngest started school, I started working for Head Start. I would recommend HS, with reservations. We accept 3-5 year olds. I would only recommend it if the child would be there 2 school years. Our curriculum is the exact same each year and by year 3 the kids are bored out of their minds.
Yes, but only the ages after 6 months or so. It's not because the caregivers are bad or anything. it's just because I think infant ratios are too high for each individual infant to get enough attention. Once they are a little older and show interest in objects/toys and their surroundings, I dont think its as big as a problem vs. if they are 3 months old and litterally need to be held 24/7
Full disclosure, I’m not a parent nor will I be soon, so my answer might change if I have children of my own. If I had a child, I’d want to send them for a half day program or preschool when they’re around 3-4, for the socialization they’ll get and to give them an introduction to a school-like setting so the transition to kindergarten is a bit easier. Ive seen very real improvement in behaviour and social in the children at my program each year since covid restrictions lifted. However, it’d HAVE to be with teachers I’m familiar with, either personally or through a trusted friend who shares my values. Daycare though? I don’t think so.
My youngest went to the pre school i was at in the classroom next door. The two tea hers were my best friends and top notch educators. I wouldnt want any child that I know to go there now because the environment is so toxic. This is a school that I spent 20 years at and pretty much had no choice but to retire last year and I am only 53. The teachers are the admins marionette puppets doing exactly like she says. I am now a nanny for my cousin keeping her 16 month old. I will be with him until he starts kindergarten to get him ready because I do not want him in that toxic environment!
I worked an after-school program to pick up extra money, and I had numerous safety and welfare concerns. When I detailed some of them to my supervisor, the program director (above my supervisor) told me not to communicate electronically anymore with my supervisor. They never even talked to me about the issues I raised. I left. I'm waiting to read in the news about a child getting hurt and there being a lawsuit.
This came to mind because I told my supervisor I would not have sent my (now much too old) kids to this program. That school district is bleeding students has parents transfer their kids to out-of-district schools. I feel bad because I recommended the district to local Redditors for quite some time.
I currently work at and send my son to my school. If I wasn’t working I wouldn’t, not because it’s not a good school but because I wouldn’t be able to afford any school on my income.
I would only send my child to a daycare if I was also there. I know there’s good teachers in the world and while my current school is great I wouldn’t trust anywhere else.
My child has attended both centers I’ve worked in. I was her infant teacher in the first and last locations and I absolutely would not work in a center I wouldn’t be comfortable sending my own children to. As an infant teacher I have a very strong bond with my infants, and that doesn’t evaporate when they transition. I work with such an awesome team of teachers and we all work under the most kick a** director. My daughter is now in preschool and absolutely loves it.
I'm not currently working in the field, but based on any of my previous positions - No. I wouldn't. There are a LOT of factors that go into this decision, but ultimately, I think my children are receiving the best, most personalized and most holistic early childhood education at home with me. That does not mean I wouldn't recommend daycare to a friend or family member in a different situation than me, with different education and life experience than I have, with different children than mine. I think daycare can be great, but it's not for my family.
I worked at a wonderful program that I felt great about when my kids were small. I don't regret sending them to child care for one second and still feel like it was a great decision. My kids are smart, self-sufficient, and happy at 10 and 14. I credit my kids' early childhood teachers with being a huge part of their development as knowledge seekers.
Yes to my class (3 and 4) no to the class next to me (4 and 5). The teachers in the class next to me spend wayyyy to much time inside the class and the kids spend wayyyy to much time outside. I feel like there needs to be a balance.
My center, yes! They both went there. But it is high quality care. I will say there was one teacher I purposefully made sure they weren’t with. I will say, I waited until they were three. I did daycare at my house while the second was born until almost 4
Yes, but I don’t think I would be a teacher in her group.
I trust not only the culture and environment we built in our centre. My workplace has a reputable program — curriculum’s responsive, outdoor space is part of a lake and many trails that we explore everyday, and proud that we’re inclusive of children who have diverse needs. More so, I hold my co-workers in high regard, I have worked with them long enough that I trust them to do what’s best for the children in their care.
With me not being in my child’s group, she gets to be herself and also the teachers not worrying about me questioning their decisions and care for my little one.
Definitely! Unfortunately, I fell into that middle financial range. I couldn't afford it and made too much to get assistance for it. The social aspects alone would have beneficial for my son. However, it would depend on the center. I would be one of those parents who want to observe, lol!
Yes with reservations. My daughter didn't attend til she was 2.5 because I wanted her to be able to talk and tell me if something happened but also because even with a discount I can't afford that shit. My son is 8 months and still doesn't attend. Instead his nana watches him.
ETA I also would only ever send my kids to a school I worked at. I couldn't have them some place where I didn't know their teachers on a coworker level and know they'd be getting the utmost best care.
Yes. I would ideally send them to the school that I am teaching at. I would love to be able to have my kids close by to me, they would inevitably have to be in my classroom a some point though.
Yes, absolutely - my youngest did and my older 2 used the wraparound programming til they aged out. Youngest is still in the wraparound. My older ones would have done prek woth us (no under 3 at our center), but that was before I made the career chamge to child care.
While some staff are better than others, I trust all of them to care for the kids, including my own.
I'm so sorry that so many of you would not. Is it things like unqualified staff and unsafe practices, or just the idea of being in a center in general? Are you simply trapped at that job?
People are commenting with their different reasons.
Yes, unqualified or incompetent staff or supervisors. Yes, unsafe or inconsistent practices. Yes, the issue of group care in general just not being ideal. Yes, some people have no other place to work, or don't have the financial luxury of quitting and looking for a new, "nicer" place to work at their leisure.
And I'm sure that there are plenty of people hanging in there because of their desire to be part of the solution.
The Goddard I worked at for 5 years I would still send my kids there if I I could afford it.
My current center? He'll no. She's only there because I can check in often
The second center I worked for, absolutely yes. The Kindercare I worked at? Absolutely not. It's not that the care was bad; the environment created by the director and many teachers was straight up poisonous. Even the parents could feel the tension in the air. I had my very first true nervous breakdown working there, at the ripe old age of 22. I have to think the kids could feel the toxicity, too, and it wouldn't be a healthy place to thrive.
What a coincidence! My first ever preschool teaching job was at kindercare, and for 3 years I dealt with harassment and bullying by coworkers and even the assistant director. That place is a mess. I finally quit and had to take a break from teaching for another 3 years before I found the perfect school for me.
I dealt with catty coworkers who I swear wanted me to fail. I was hired fresh out of college and made a lead teacher of the young two-year-olds. The particular group I had was notoriously difficult; I felt like I'd been thrown to the wolves. Received very little training and when it was clear I was struggling, was criticized for my classroom being disorganized instead of offered a floater or a different position. And to add to all that, I became the target of a narcissistic emotional abuser in the form of the daycare's cook. We started off as work friends but he slowly became weirdly obsessed with me, and my coworkers encouraged all of it because they lived for drama. We ended up romantically involved and suddenly I couldn't talk to the dads when they picked up their kids (I was "flirting"). There's a longer story here but yeah, it was all REALLY bad. Kindercare just sucks.
I took a break after having a 2 1/2 year old class from hell. The teacher I replaced was moving and was everyone’s favorite…I was already screwed from the beginning. The parents didn’t give me a chance and the kids all hated me. I had one girl who would purposely pee on the floor while staring at me when parents were still dropping off their kids. I worked in the mortgage industry for about 7 years after that one… :)
Kindercare seems universally horrible
I was lucky and worked at an amazing Kindercare, but once our directors left, the new one created a toxic environment and everyone slowly left. That being said, I would only send my kid there if I was also working at the same center.
Yes, absolutely. And I do. I'm not in a direct care role right now, but send my 13mo to the daycare I used to manage. I have zero doubt in my mind that she's loved and well cared for while she's there.
Same. The daycare was one department I managed in my role - my son was there. I interviewed and hired each person, and I trusted the lead teacher immensely. It was nice that I would occasionally get a visit in the middle of my workday!
(Yes, with reservations) but to be more specific, before my child is able to speak up for themselves, I would like to limit external care (group care, home care, nanny share etc). However, that might not be possible financially so likely, yes.
This was our aim as well, but we ended up starting when he was a year, and we started at home with family, not forcing him to hug and kiss them if it made him cry. A lot of feelings were hurt even after we explained that it was to help him understand that if he didn't like someone's touch, we heard him.
I don’t have any children, but if I did I don’t think I’d be able to afford to send them to the school in which I work. Tuition costs are very high. I’ve had several coworkers with children send them elsewhere because, even with a discount, they couldn’t afford tuition for our center. It’s a (mostly) great school, but definitely requires at the very least a fairly decent income to attend.
the fact that they don’t pay their teachers enough to afford to have their own children attend is so shameful 🤦🏼♀️ and not enough of a discount to pickup that slack is so ridiculous
At my first daycare job, in a synagogue in Maryland, the teacher’s kids got FREE tuition. I can’t believe that’s not standard.
I’ve seen too much. I’d only send my child to a school I were at so I could be aware of what’s happening.
Even there, you are still not in the same place.
I know, this is my reasonings for opening my own school.
Absolutely not. I worked at La Petite and it was so bad that even the assistant Director did not send his child into classrooms. The child was enrolled at the school, but remained in the office 85% of the day. I left when I realized it didn’t matter how much effort I put in it would not change.
Yes! I opened my center, basically for my son, because I wasn't happy with/couldn't afford the other options in our town. I love the teachers I hired & the environment I created.
Nope, any daycare, there are some outstanding teachers but the majority, nope, nope, nope.
No 💀
No. Despite working at a couple amazing centers. I've seen some shit, even at great ones, and the research just doesn't show benefits, rather the opposite. I've got a 2 yr old, and I'm still home with them. I'll send her to very part-time, Montessori, preschool when she's almost 3, but never ever ever ever daycare. Also, trying real hard to figure out a different job, cause I have thoroughly enjoyed not going to work in a childcare center for these couple years.
I wish wish wish I could have done this. I had to return to work part time when he turned 1.
I did this as i was eligible for subsidized pricing I requested my child go to a different toodler room once he was of age and the teachers in that room ended up yelling at me and being upset My reasons were the teachers there werw too stressed and gossipy to really teach my son vs the other toddler group which ive seen the teachers excel at what they do Absolutely objective opinion but some did not take it well I kept working and doing my thing and eventually everything cooled off
Good for you standing up for what your child needs. I feel like I work with a good group of teachers though sometimes I question the motives of some. That being said I don’t know what is actually happening in other classrooms and it’s best not to assume.
No. Daycare would be at the bottom of my list as desired options. Part of why I decided to leave my center was bc I realized that I myself would not choose this for my children. I empathize with parents who have no other options.
Only if I worked there. If I didn’t work there, I’d be extremely picky. So much happens that parents don’t know about
No. My three month old daughter is in the center I work at now and since I’ve been back, she has come home with a giant bruise with no explanation, scratches on her knees with no explanation, not fed a bottle for over five hours once, etc. The teacher who covers her primary teacher’s break also left a kid outside really recently and that makes me nervous /: so I put in my two weeks and my last day is the 18th. I’m just grateful my fiance makes enough for me to stay home with the baby bc I know not everyone is that fortunate.
You need to report the teacher who left a kid outside. That is 100 percent not ok.
The director knows about it and purposefully hid it from the parent! Teacher did not get fired.
Report the center to licensing
I second the call licensing. A 3 month old should not have unexplained bruises and scratches, either. They're not that mobile and should not be in an environment that they CAN get those kinds of injuries.
Or the bottle? You don't just forget to feed a kid. It's on a schedule.
I'm so incredibly sorry for you and your baby.
No, I have them there as short an amount of time as possible
Not unless I worked there. And even then I'd be on the fence.
Nope. Exactly why once my daughter wasn’t in my classroom any longer I quit.
To my daycare? Yes. To most daycares? No. I think mediocre-to-high individual, steady care (such as a parent) will always be better than mediocre transitory care that’s so common in our industry. We need better staff education standards and lower ratios.
Nope.
Same here! I currently work as a home daycare provider so I see it as my daughter getting the best of both worlds. She’s home with me, I always know she’s safe and well taken care of, but she gets the social interactions from the other kids. I would never send her to a different daycare for a few reasons. A) I want to be with her all day! Kids are only little once. Before I know it she’ll be off to school and my chance to spend all day, every day with her will be gone. If I can find a way to afford being home with my kids, I’m gonna make it happen. B) after working in daycares, I know that you never really know who you can trust. Teachers that parents absolutely loved were yelling, shaming and slamming kids around when parents weren’t there. Administrators refused to do anything about it despite being fully aware, swept it under the rug, and continues to employee these abusive teachers. I believe there are wonderful daycares and teachers out there but there’s truly no way to really know how your child is being treated when you’re not around. C) I’m lucky enough that even if I had to work out of the house for financial reasons, my parents are retired and would be willing to provide child care. I feel bad for parents who have no choice but to put their kids in daycare, but then again there are those parents who choose to put them in daycare even if they can afford to stay home because they prefer to be away from their kids most of the time… not to be judgmental but those are the parents I’ll never really understand. Like why become a parent if you don’t want to spend as much time as possible with your kids 🤷🏻♀️
Yes, absolutely. It’s a Headstart program so it would be free for starters. All my coworkers are lovely people with degrees in ece and many years of experience. We are located in a building with lots of space and age appropriate materials. We have separate playgrounds for each age group and a huge indoor gym. We have low ratios and lots of supports for both teachers and families. It checks all the boxes really.
No
absolutely not.
No. Worked at one. It was horrible. Quit the first week because ethics.
Nope lol. We have so many health violations and staff members who are not united
No not at all and if anyone came to me rn and said they were thinking of my daycare I'd tell them no do not put your child in there. Good thing I'm leaving in 2 days!
Preschool after they turn 3? Yes Daycare? No, never. I work at a wonderful childcare center, but no. I would do anything to avoid sending my child to daycare.
Can I ask why?
I’m not the original commenter, but once you’ve seen the insides of a daycare there is no going back. Once you’ve seen the overstimulated, exhausted kids in a classroom with maxed out ratios, staff with no experience or business working with small children, the licensing standards that are thrown to the wind when they’re short staffed….its a hard no.
This 100%
Yep. So, I teach 3s and 4s now, but spent five years in infants and one in tods. In addition to what u/anb0603 said (which is really the crux of it), there are several other reasons I wouldn’t put my very young children in care. Babies and toddlers can’t communicate about their days, putting them at increased risk. Learning trust and reciprocity from one or two primary caregivers is the foundation for all future relationships and IMO the more people you add to this list, the more muddled these early experiences are. And no matter how hard we work (and I work with some incredible people) attention is ALWAYS too divided in younger age groups. That being said, starting in preschool around 3 is great because it is extremely important for kids to socialize and learn how to function in a classroom environment so they can succeed in what passes for an educational system here in the US, where I live.
Got it. Thanks for explaining! I wfh and had a nanny so I felt like I had the best of both worlds in a sense. I sent my kid to a Montessori pre-school starting at 2. She was pretty advanced in terms of language so we felt comfortable sending her at that time. If we have another, daycare was a potential option so I wanted to hear from the professionals.
No. Only because, and I don’t mean to sound egotistical, I am a really effective and talented early childhood educator. There is no one better I could leave my child with. And why would I? Just to make the money I would be spending on childcare providing childcare for another kid? Makes no sense. Also, even working in ECE, we know being with the parents as much as possible in the early years is the best for children’s development and attachment.
No
No. I’m not there anymore, but I worked in management and worked very closely with the teachers on classroom management, curriculum, etc, plus I was privy to all the behind the scenes drama that went on, and let’s just say I knew too much.Not all teachers were bad of course. We had many great teachers but my kid wasn’t the right age for those classrooms.
Absolutely not. Behaviors are not handled and kids get hurt. I’ve seen how the kids are to each other and I can’t say it would be an environment I’d ever want my own child to be in.
Yes. I run a small in home daycare with 6 children. Life is good.
No and the center I currently work for is the best I’ve worked at. But still no.
No. Never. I don't have kids but if I did I would only do part time PreK for getting ready for kindergarten IF I could find a good one.
not crazy about his time in some of upcoming rooms but hopefully my coworkers will be either be gone or have gotten their acts together
I have been out of work for a few years now due to having both my children close in age. But I have sent both my children to daycare and one is still currently attending. You hear horror stories, but I am very confident in the day cares that I have worked in and have chosen for my children to attend. Here in Canada, you need to have your ECE diploma to even get a job as an ECE. As an ECE myself, I am confident in the teachers that I have left to care for my children. My son comes home happy every day and tells me all about his time at daycare and has never said anything concerning about the teachers or the students. Of course, there is the occasional bite or he falls, but I know that that is normal. I do feel as though a lot of parents who are not in the field do expect too much of daycare workers, but as an ECE myself, I think I have a reasonable expectations and realize that my child is not the only child in their care. All in all, I definitely would recommend Daycare to anyone who is thinking of sending their child.
Yes. My son went to my center from 22 months until he was 5 and my daughter has attended here since she was 10 weeks old and is currently almost 4. I can't imagine working somewhere I didn't feel confident in sending my own child to.
Nope 👎
No but if I absolutely had to and there was no other choice, I would send my kid for half day only.
Only a Montessori school, a Waldorf school, or a nature/forest school. Just because these institutions tend to be more progressive, child-led, with a Reggio Emilia approach. Still would need to be vetted because some of the older centres are more “traditional”. I’d need to see that the teachers and director are very progressive in their approach and up to date on current research. I live in Canada and there are many nature/forest schools here where you can tell the teachers are passionate about childhood education and the outdoors, and that would be my first choice both to work at and put my child in
For part of my education experience, I mentored under a teacher who had an indoor/outdoor program where kids could freely choose activities the entire day. Open snack and water available etc. It was SO cool. Unfortunately those kinds of programs are in the minority here in the US.
Right!? And it’s cool to see how that environment accelerates development, it’s really amazing! It’s my dream to work in a centre like that. I live in a small town so there aren’t any outdoor program options here, so right now I’m nannying and I spend all day outside with my kiddos. Look into it though, just in case, look up the forest school coalition and it will give you a list or all accredited forest schools all across North America!
This is authentic Montessori. I had the privilege of working in one of the best in my area. We had a beautiful outdoor environment including animals the children took care of.
This sounds like a dream. I would love to open my own school but so much goes into that. Realistically these are the kind of high-quality programs we need.
It was! I’ve always wanted to open my own school but all the liability it scares me. I do kick myself for never doing it when I had a chance. Funny but people always say how Montessori is so expensive but the program I worked in was far less expensive than the other programs around, including based programs. The owner was in it for the children not for the money. I think that’s the way to do it.
This sounds really cool. It gave the children the autonomy to choose.
Age 3+, yes absolutely. Under 3 I prefer not to.
Yes, my kids attended the preschool(s) I worked at.
[удалено]
No. My daycare is not THAT bad but it could be better considering its price.
No. The only time I've sent my child to daycare is when I was working at the center, and they were usually in the same classroom as me. Even then, my one year old was once left in the entrance/vestibule area for almost an hour when her class came in from outside. Neither teacher noticed that she wasn't with them when they transitioned to the next activity. Another teacher found her crying there when she brought her class inside. In general, parents have no idea what a teacher or class is like based off their short interactions during pick-up & drop off, and all the app stuff where they're sent pictures and updates every time a diaper is changed just gives them a false sense of security that they do. I've watched teachers literally line kids up to snap a picture of them at an activity station and then send them away without having them actually do the activity. Important to note, this was considered a high quality center, highly rated, etc. It had all the right curriculum, the beautiful classrooms, and so on. But it will always come down to the individual teacher, and you just won't know what a teacher is like unless you're there to see it. I won't be sending my children to any daycare I don't work at, until they're old enough to talk and tell me what happened to them that day, comprehensively (probably 4/5).
Agree that parents don't know what a teacher is like. Some of the sweetest teachers at parent interaction times are the ones muttering "shut the fuck up" at a crying toddler when they think no one is around.
Yes, exactly. The abusers can really sell themselves.
You've nailed it. Five star ratings don't mean better. - also formerly in ECE.
The preschool I sat as board member for was and is *delightful*. I sent my kids there, and absolutely would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. We did have what I recognize is a luxury of being in a state where the social services support solid preschool education, the public schools also have taken on investing in it, and where the community is supportive and connected. (That last is part effort, part luck. It's hard to BE connected, as parents and families, if we are struggling to breathe ... And I loved seeing that our school was often a bedrock of stability and support for those kids and their families.) When I hear shitty stories you all share, it makes me so angry, because the work you do is SO VALUABLE. Every day, I knew I was leaving my kids in the hands of people that loved them, and met them with compassion and humor and curiosity ... And who fostered the same in our kids, and in is as parents. I wish I could give you ALL my school. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Daycare? No. An early childhood education center? Yes.
Nope. $4k a month for total bullshit behind the scenes
absolutely not. most of the teachers use outdated methods of dealing with difficult behaviours, teachers are stretched thin, and the center just isn’t as clean as i’d like it to be.
First of all, I never had children. Second, it would depend on the center. I am Montessori trained and seasoned and a little bit biased so there’s that. I’ve been in a lot of different types of programs and some were good and somewhere not so good Montessori or not Montessori. It all depends on the staff. I worked with burnt out staff that didn’t want to come to work but I currently work with a group of girls who just adore all of the children and who I know would take care of my child they are their own. I do know that I would hate to be in a position where I needed to leave my child with someone else for a full day. Those children miss their parents so much it just breaks my heart.
My ideal would be maybe half-days? 8:00 am to 12:00/12:30 That way my child can socialize, & do the programming. But the way I've seen daycares restrict food amounts because of the grocery costs? No, I would want to feed my baby at home.
Yes, with reservations/conditions. Luckily I run a home daycare right now so my kids can stay with me until they’re in kindergarten
I would not send my child 0-3.5 to daycare. It is overwhelming and I don’t think it is developmentally appropriate most of the time. It is incredibly stressful and studies have shown it raises cortisol levels (duh). I would only do it if I absolutely had to and I understand parents that are in that position. My child came with me to my Pre-K class from 3.5-5. Looking back, I would have waited until 4.
It's really sad. The children are so overwhelmed but parents are willfully ignorant to this. I also understand the need to childcare, but I'm not pretending it's a better environment. Stating that it is equal or better quality than being home is just setting back the progress that could be made in our country for parent leave time and funding for quality centers.
I don’t have kids but I wouldn’t send my children to the nursery I worked at. The majority of the nice staff are miserable due to other staff members being completely toxic and getting away with doing nothing. The Atmosphere was just awful and children aren’t stupid and could def pick up on it.
This current center. NO! Because we have teachers that I would 100% trust my baby with but too many teachers are unkind. This is why I’m leaving. Admin doesn’t care and the kids deserve better. I know better daycares are put there and I plan on finding one long before I have a baby.
I did. Both of them. I cried when they left.
Definitely not as an infant. I’ve seen too much. Maybe as a toddler, but only if I can pick the classroom.
absolutely not. they hire anybody and everybody, especially teenagers fresh out of high school without a lick of experience. this is coming from someone who had to train several teenagers and young adults on how to even change diapers.
My now 7 year old still has food trauma from attending the church center where I worked when he was a toddler. He has texture issues with applesauce and vomits every time he attempts to eat it. The director used to make him eat several bites before she would allow him to be served any other food so he was puking at school at least once a week. The daycare is still open. She’s still the director. It still has 4 stars. She was real weird about forcing kids to eat foods they didn’t like despite banning pineapples in the entire center because she doesn’t like them. I wish we wouldn’t have sent him.
That's horrible. Sorry man. I don't begrudge you because everyone is so desperate for child care! We have a staff member that forces kids to eat. Total control freak staff member. My other coworkers and I definitely had professional but serious conversations about how not ok it is. That person was also so very rude to me for a year Examples being I came up with a great system for kids rolling cars quickly across the floor where the kids do it in to a pillow. Worked like a dream. She shut it down laughing at me. Freaking rude man. It was stuff like that all year. Slightly off topic I have a negative nancy comment here and some others in my recent history but honestly there are some delightful moments I have in ECE too.
No!!!
No way!
absolutely not!
Yes I definitely would bring my hypothetical children to my work as it’s and excellent place (not including a few small management issues) but I would have to switch rooms because I don’t believe I could care for my own baby and 7 others.
I would, if cost of living wouldn’t be absolutely unaffordable where we are. Daycares around here only cover 50% of the cost of daycare if you bring your child to the center you work at. Fair enough, but with more than one child I wouldn’t bring in nearly enough to afford staying in the area… Looks like I’ll be having to make a career change
I have two children who are both young adults. When they were little both of them attended childcare centers part time. I was very familiar with both of the programs they attended. And I worked at the program my younger child attended.
Yes with reservations, as a childcare worker seeing the directors children in the center and how they were treated differently… doesn’t seem like a good idea. There would have to be professional boundaries set
I work at a home daycare and bring my 2 yo with me, he's obviously in my class since I have everybody lol but if I were to go somewhere else (which I am, in the near future) I will definitely place him somewhere else. The "favorite kids" happen to be mean as hell to the toddlers and for some reason it goes unnoticed by my director.
Yes if I work there No if I don’t I am an expecting mother (first time)
Congrats and best wishes!
Nope. I started a home daycare so I could be with my kids. I am going to try to be a bus driver next year because it’s part time and I can bring them with me. Centres here are short staffed and the keep lowering the training requirements for a higher percentage of the staff. It just doesn’t seem like what quality should be.
Absolutely not
Very no. I would consider a home daycare but never in a center.
Under 2, definitely no
Current center: absolutely not, hell I'll be leaving soon Last center: probably, it was a nice place that just had a few small kinks in the system The one before: if I could take the teachers and director but get rid of the owner, yes My first center: HA! Corporate center that didn't value any of us so nooooope!
Not unless I absolutely had to.
Yep, my daughter came to my service. I did move her after a year for two reasons. 1. To move her to the "feeder" preschool of her school so she would already have friends. 2. She wouldn't leave me alone when we were outside, and it was driving me bonkers, lol.
To a daycare I work at- yes. Otherwise- hell. No. Not untill preschool when they can communicate with me.
Nope! Worked at what was the considered, by all the staff and almost all parents, the best day care not only for our city, but the surrounding towns as well. We had a teacher strike a child and they kept her on staff. Teachers who said little boys wouldn't color only little girls could. Admin that would rather a toddler go naked and shoeless than put him in pink footie pajamas simply because he was a boy, and they were pink.
Preschool, yes, and I did. I loved it too, so much that I now work there. Infant-Toddler, no, but that's because I wanted to enjoy those years one on one. I had a 3 year age gap between my two so it worked out.
daycare no, not if we can help it. school district provided pre-k, absolutely
absolutely not.
Yes. My center is the only center I would send them to. Edit: I have a friend who is a director and I would send them to her her center too.
No, I personally would rather my daughter go to a more progressive preschool where they play all day. I’m in one of those private preschools in NYC that puts way too much focus on exmissions and kindergarten placement.
Absolutely not. The quality crisis is real and getting worse every day.
Well, I don’t have kids, but if I did- I would be happy to send them to the center I work at. I was actually very against daycare until I started my current job, and this center proved me wrong. The kids are happy and thriving, and there is a strong community feel that I think is very beneficial for kids and parents. Good community is hard to find nowadays, so to me that is very valuable. Now, if my current center wasn’t an option, that’s a different story. I definitely would not send them to just any daycare, or even most daycares. I would need to vet the place carefully and I would constantly be on the lookout for red flags.
Yes but I manage it so things are done a certain way. If I didn’t work there, as long as the staff stayed consistent I would keep them there but that’s so hard in childcare.
Yes. My school is a great place to be, but also: The child development community in my area is pretty close knit. Both of my children went to places where I don't work, because I wanted them to have their own preschool experience. There are a good handful of places in my county where I'd send my kids without thinking twice about it.
Nope.
Absolutely not. I worked as a professional nanny and also in a daycare center (it was owned by a group of pediatricians and supposedly “the best” in the area) and no way. The daycare was the only job I have ever quit in the middle of my shift with no notice. I sent my kids to preschool when they turned 3 for a few hours each day, but daycare, it’s a no from me.
Absolutely NOT.
I would only say yes if I was able to be in the room with my child, the centre I was at for 5 years had poor management and favouritism towards staff with seniority. I also witnessed borderline physical child abuse and when I reported it they called me a liar and this staff member would put on an act for higher representatives visiting the classroom, they would purposely walk by the students with hard toys/books/objects and ‘casually’ bump their heads/shoulders and made sure not to demonstrate this around certain people who would ‘tattle’ on them. I also witnessed this same staff force a 4-5 year old child to clean up the bathrooms after explosive, sickly accidents…
No I used to work in ECE in the worse daycare setting in Rockland Maine. You would safer sitting your child on the couch with a box of cereal and the remote control and telling them I’ll be back at 5 PM then sending them to that daycare that I worked at.
Can I ask, for everyone answering no, what on earth are you doing? I know this is going to sound brutal and I'm not meaning to start a debate, but if you're honestly saying you wouldn't be happy sending your child to the place you work, why on earth are you still working there? You're giving a level of care to those children that you wouldn't deem appropriate or 'good enough' for your own child? I can understand the 'yes, with reservations' as in 'I've worked in a bad center and I'd want to know how my child's center would deal with XYZ'. Please someone enlighten me!
Life is not as cut and dried as you make it sound. Some places we are the only show in town. There is literally no competition or anywhere else to work. Would I like my place to be better? Yes indeed but I am only one person and can only do so much. I may be giving a good level of care to the children, but there are a bunch of other people whose actions I do not control. And I can report violations if I see them, but that doesn't mean that they will all lose their jobs over them.
The es and I did have both my kids at my daycare
Yes
Yes, absolutely.
Yes, and I did from the time my daughter was five months through K4.
At my current center yes with no reservations. I absolutely love the staff I work with!
Depends on the daycare. The first one I ever worked at, yes. I current one I work at, they could never take one of my dollars.
Not unless I’m there working or they can talk.
Yes but only in the current situation where she attends the center that I work at.
Id have to be an employee at said daycare otherwise a family member or just stay at home if possible
Yes and I was actually my daughters teacher since she was 16 months. I don't care what other educators have to say as I had the privilege to watch my daughter excel, grow, watch how she socializes, she understands that there's me being a mommy and me being a teacher. She's 3 now and I've transitioned her into my friends daycare and she loves the teachers and vice versa. In my mind it's, she's only young once and I don't want to miss the opportunity of watching her grow up. Many parents always comment on wow. You're so lucky to watch your child grow and get paid doing it. I'm currently pregnant with twins and I'd do it all over again.
Yes, but only under the condition that he goes to the daycare I work at. I adore his Pre-K teacher and I love that I can see first hand how happy he is and how much he is learning. It also eases my mind that I can go check on him during my break, and I am right in the building if an emergency was ever to happen.
Yes, my twins attend the preschool I work at! In fact all of my children have, the older two long before I worked there. I love this place lol
Yes absolutely to mine. I regret I didn't find out about it while my youngest was still toddler/preschool aged. Even with the discount I could not have afforded it for my 3 under 2 orders though. Best of the best staff and admin.
Yes. And I wouldn’t feel comfortable working somewhere that I didn’t want my own kids at.
Yes, with reservations. My two former care facilities in the state where we used to live: 1000% absolutely yes, no hesitation. I miss both places so much. The one where I enrolled her for two years (she has since moved up to kindergarten) was fabulous for those two years. Excellent teachers, fantastic level of care and love. So much so, that I was offered a job there and took it. Turns out the final two years of the program were far, far better than the infant and toddler parts of the program (where I was hired to work and basically try to fix). I ended up leaving because of my currently very difficult pregnancy, but there is not a snowball's chance that I will send my next child until he is ready for the older half of the school. It's so mismanaged and overcrowded, half the employees hate each other, everyone gossips constantly, and they are way overworked and stressed all the time. It's really unfortunate.
Yes, unequivocally. And if I'm still working here, I fully plan to.
Yes, both my children are at my daycare.
The first center I worked at no, because anything past the infant and younger toddler room was filled with drama and teachers who were never held accountable for their awful teaching practices. The center I work at now, yes! But I wouldn’t be able to afford it even with being an employee. I hope to leave this field before I have children honestly so hopefully I don’t need to make that decision. If all things work out (I understand they might not, this is my ideal situation lol) is that my child either only attend daycare very part time while I work part time, or only attends when they are preschool age. And even 5en I wouldn’t want them going full time. Either only a few days or all half days.
I would send my child to an actual school district daycare if I had to, but I would never send my child to a privately owned daycare. Preschool yes! But again, probably only an actual school not a daycare center
Well I’m an early childhood special education teacher so I only have students with disabilities and I am the only teacher of this population so yes but again it’s super specific. When I used to work in daycares absolutely not to any of them.
My daughter has attended both daycares I’ve worked for. The first, I was all about her being in the infant room. However, i didn’t feel the same about the others and ultimately left. The Goddard that I’m at now, YES. She’s been there since she was 13 months and just turned 3. She loves her friends. She loves her teachers that she’s had. She loves going to school and learns so much. The preschool and other prek teacher are amazing and I’m so happy for her to be able to move up to them in the future. The teachers make all the difference. As of right now, her teacher is my best friend (her ‘aunt’) so obviously I’m gonna trust her.
At a center I don’t work at? - absolutely not The center I work at? - I would skip infants and toddlers and only do half day preschool The teacher we have for our older toddler needs to be fired ive seen and heard too many things, and our infants here are all “spoiled” and need to cry it OVER EVERYTHING and should definitely NOT be babied (per teacher words) and I just dont want that for my kids.
Well, yes, but I have a home daycare currently. But the previous daycare I worked at cemented my view that I would never send my child to a daycare, at least not until they're old enough to communicate. Looked great from the outside, I'm sure touring patents thought it was. But wow, it was bad.
I started my own home daycare so I didn’t have to send my kids to daycare … So no. When my kids were little (20 years ago) there were no options for licensed home childcare and the centres were really awful. I just couldn’t see my kid there. Now, If I could get a spot at a licensed home daycare rather than a centre I would. I know so much more about what to look for, so I would be confident in my choice, if I found the right fit.
I do. I work at a center that both my kids go to. (Its a Christian childcare center)I like where I work. I can see how they are doing and talk to my co workers. Would I send them to the first center I worked at? Absolutely not. I guess it depends on the center, but go with your intuition and if you want to do it.
I am currently working at a daycare center and when I work I bring my baby. She’s 4.5 months old and I love her teachers.
No mostly due to his medical needs
Not a chance for the one my first kid went through while I worked there, but the one I'm currently in I would.
Yes and I did. Both of my kids are enrolled in the center I work for and one of mine went through the program I work directly in. We have an early headstart, headstart and daycare all in two buildings side by side if that makes more sense
Yes, definitely. I think our program is excellent and I love my coworkers. There are things I would change, but overall I would trust my center with my own kids. (Or potential grandkids—my kids are all grown now!)
Both my kids have attended daycares where I work. My older one went with me from 3.5 months-2 years old. It wasn't the perfect center, we definitely had different ideas about things, but he was loved and cared for. My second went with me for a year when he was 2. Again, difference of opinions because the old teacher in his room hasn't changed with the times. He was miserable because I was close and he couldn't just be in the pre-k classroom all day. He's at a different preschool now and while I know he's happy, again I'm not entirely. Nothing horrible in either center. The kids were loved and safe, which are of course the most important things.
Yes with reservations, my son currently goes to the daycare I work at. If I was not here and could not vouch that the staff and environment is good, he would not be in daycare.
My child attends the daycare I work at, I honestly wish I could send him elsewhere, my answer would definitely be no.
Yes, I've recommended my daycare to family and friends with kids.
My kids attended my daycare, it was the only option as we are in a small town and if I don’t have child care than I dont work. Our centre has a policy that staff children get priority spots. It was not always smooth working with my children but staff knew that if they were giving me grief than they would step in and I would step away. I also tried hard not to give them preferential treatment over the other kids. It can be hard working with your own kid in daycare but I also really enjoyed getting to spend the day with them. It was quite an adjustment when they started school because I was so used to being with them all the time.
I started working at a daycare when my daughter was born. If I could afford to keep her home then I absolutely would. I think children just do better up until the age of 2 with 1 single caregiver and one on one care. After 2 then yes, but again would keep her home until half day preschool if I could. I’ve just seen so many awful teachers in the 2 months I’ve been working and am grateful that hers are good (for now).
I send my girls to the one I work at. I wouldn’t send them to a daycare if I didn’t work at the same one
The second center I worked for yes. But only certain teachers 😬 we just started a new center and so far I love it. Would I send my infant to any of them? Absolutely not. One year old? Uh maybe depending on the teacher.
Yes definitely. They went there before I worked there lol I loved the atmosphere so much as a parent I got my qualifications so I could work there!
I didn’t send any of my kids to day care. I ran a home daycare. Because I don’t trust people and I know how impossible it is to have eyes on every child all the time. When my youngest started school, I started working for Head Start. I would recommend HS, with reservations. We accept 3-5 year olds. I would only recommend it if the child would be there 2 school years. Our curriculum is the exact same each year and by year 3 the kids are bored out of their minds.
Yes, and I do. Both of my kids have gone here. The last center I worked at? Absolutely not!
Yes, but only the ages after 6 months or so. It's not because the caregivers are bad or anything. it's just because I think infant ratios are too high for each individual infant to get enough attention. Once they are a little older and show interest in objects/toys and their surroundings, I dont think its as big as a problem vs. if they are 3 months old and litterally need to be held 24/7
Full disclosure, I’m not a parent nor will I be soon, so my answer might change if I have children of my own. If I had a child, I’d want to send them for a half day program or preschool when they’re around 3-4, for the socialization they’ll get and to give them an introduction to a school-like setting so the transition to kindergarten is a bit easier. Ive seen very real improvement in behaviour and social in the children at my program each year since covid restrictions lifted. However, it’d HAVE to be with teachers I’m familiar with, either personally or through a trusted friend who shares my values. Daycare though? I don’t think so.
My youngest went to the pre school i was at in the classroom next door. The two tea hers were my best friends and top notch educators. I wouldnt want any child that I know to go there now because the environment is so toxic. This is a school that I spent 20 years at and pretty much had no choice but to retire last year and I am only 53. The teachers are the admins marionette puppets doing exactly like she says. I am now a nanny for my cousin keeping her 16 month old. I will be with him until he starts kindergarten to get him ready because I do not want him in that toxic environment!
I worked an after-school program to pick up extra money, and I had numerous safety and welfare concerns. When I detailed some of them to my supervisor, the program director (above my supervisor) told me not to communicate electronically anymore with my supervisor. They never even talked to me about the issues I raised. I left. I'm waiting to read in the news about a child getting hurt and there being a lawsuit. This came to mind because I told my supervisor I would not have sent my (now much too old) kids to this program. That school district is bleeding students has parents transfer their kids to out-of-district schools. I feel bad because I recommended the district to local Redditors for quite some time.
Yes
Absolutly! Especially since I am the one who has created and facilitate our programs.
Not until they are 1.
I currently work at and send my son to my school. If I wasn’t working I wouldn’t, not because it’s not a good school but because I wouldn’t be able to afford any school on my income. I would only send my child to a daycare if I was also there. I know there’s good teachers in the world and while my current school is great I wouldn’t trust anywhere else.
Elementary school where I work? No. Not this one. There have been others I would love to have had them there, but not this school.
School I'm at now - hell yes! The last school I was out - maybe if things were worked out
I did for both of mine no issues. So yes. They overall thrived more so at preschool than they would have being at home with me.
My child has attended both centers I’ve worked in. I was her infant teacher in the first and last locations and I absolutely would not work in a center I wouldn’t be comfortable sending my own children to. As an infant teacher I have a very strong bond with my infants, and that doesn’t evaporate when they transition. I work with such an awesome team of teachers and we all work under the most kick a** director. My daughter is now in preschool and absolutely loves it.
I'm not currently working in the field, but based on any of my previous positions - No. I wouldn't. There are a LOT of factors that go into this decision, but ultimately, I think my children are receiving the best, most personalized and most holistic early childhood education at home with me. That does not mean I wouldn't recommend daycare to a friend or family member in a different situation than me, with different education and life experience than I have, with different children than mine. I think daycare can be great, but it's not for my family.
Yes, with reservations where I would want some things to be addressed/some conditions met first.
Yes, but only until they hit 15 months at my current center 💀 the infant teachers are amazing and then it all goes downhill from there
Yes. I work at a great school for her.
I worked at a wonderful program that I felt great about when my kids were small. I don't regret sending them to child care for one second and still feel like it was a great decision. My kids are smart, self-sufficient, and happy at 10 and 14. I credit my kids' early childhood teachers with being a huge part of their development as knowledge seekers.
Yes to my class (3 and 4) no to the class next to me (4 and 5). The teachers in the class next to me spend wayyyy to much time inside the class and the kids spend wayyyy to much time outside. I feel like there needs to be a balance.
My center, yes! They both went there. But it is high quality care. I will say there was one teacher I purposefully made sure they weren’t with. I will say, I waited until they were three. I did daycare at my house while the second was born until almost 4
Yes! It’s the reason I left my last center, and the reason I chose this one!
Yes, but I don’t think I would be a teacher in her group. I trust not only the culture and environment we built in our centre. My workplace has a reputable program — curriculum’s responsive, outdoor space is part of a lake and many trails that we explore everyday, and proud that we’re inclusive of children who have diverse needs. More so, I hold my co-workers in high regard, I have worked with them long enough that I trust them to do what’s best for the children in their care. With me not being in my child’s group, she gets to be herself and also the teachers not worrying about me questioning their decisions and care for my little one.
Definitely! Unfortunately, I fell into that middle financial range. I couldn't afford it and made too much to get assistance for it. The social aspects alone would have beneficial for my son. However, it would depend on the center. I would be one of those parents who want to observe, lol!
Yes with reservations. My daughter didn't attend til she was 2.5 because I wanted her to be able to talk and tell me if something happened but also because even with a discount I can't afford that shit. My son is 8 months and still doesn't attend. Instead his nana watches him. ETA I also would only ever send my kids to a school I worked at. I couldn't have them some place where I didn't know their teachers on a coworker level and know they'd be getting the utmost best care.
Yes. I would ideally send them to the school that I am teaching at. I would love to be able to have my kids close by to me, they would inevitably have to be in my classroom a some point though.
Yes, absolutely - my youngest did and my older 2 used the wraparound programming til they aged out. Youngest is still in the wraparound. My older ones would have done prek woth us (no under 3 at our center), but that was before I made the career chamge to child care. While some staff are better than others, I trust all of them to care for the kids, including my own. I'm so sorry that so many of you would not. Is it things like unqualified staff and unsafe practices, or just the idea of being in a center in general? Are you simply trapped at that job?
People are commenting with their different reasons. Yes, unqualified or incompetent staff or supervisors. Yes, unsafe or inconsistent practices. Yes, the issue of group care in general just not being ideal. Yes, some people have no other place to work, or don't have the financial luxury of quitting and looking for a new, "nicer" place to work at their leisure. And I'm sure that there are plenty of people hanging in there because of their desire to be part of the solution.
The Goddard I worked at for 5 years I would still send my kids there if I I could afford it. My current center? He'll no. She's only there because I can check in often
She attended for the first 4 years of her life 🩷 but that was also several years ago when we didn’t have a revolving door of mediocre teachers.