Group Family Daycare?

What are the pros & cons?

I'm a little concerned that my 2 kids would be with each other all day. I kinda like the idea of them having their own space like they would in a regular daycare. And I'm concerned how they handle teaching if kids of all ages are grouped together. At the same time I like the idea of a more personal setting.

Any and all thoughts and recommendations would be wecomed. Also, I would love to get an idea of cost.

Thanks!!

Re: Group Family Daycare?

Bump

Re: Group Family Daycare?

sorry I keep bumping my own post... just looking for some input/advice. Many thanks!

Re: Group Family Daycare?

My son just started in a group family in Lindenhurst.
He is only 7 months old and right now he only goes 1 day a week. By the end of the month, he will be going 3 days a week.
I only looked at this type of setting. The daycare I chose has a full preschool cirriculum and while I know my son is too young to participate, he is present while the lessons go on. I know that he will one day benefit from these days. My son is not excluded from the lessons, but is able to do his own thing as well. They are very hands on and we clicked with them as soon as we met, that made our decision much easier.

Our daycare is a little higher priced than others we interviewed, but we felt that the benefits outweighed that.

HTH

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Re: Group Family Daycare?

Since my child is not yet born, I can't fully comment on group family daycare, but this is what we selected for September. I felt like for an infant, it was the nurturing, loving environment that I wanted, and my baby would benefit from the older peer models. When he/she is about 3, I will probably change to a more formal preschool setting. I can see why you would want your two children to have their own space though. My sister had both of her boys in a group family daycare, and really liked it. They learned a lot while there. However, I don't think that they were both there at the same time...maybe for one year.

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I actually operate a licensed group daycare in my home. I think the positives are there is little to no turn over in the people watching your children. You can keep siblings together which is nice because they always have one another to play with. In general there is less sickness because there are fewer kids. I cant say all group daycares are this way but ill tell you infants get a tremendous amount of affection. More than I saw babies got in the centers I worked in. For me the kids ive watched through the years are more like family and I'm very close to all the parents.

Re: Group Family Daycare?

Your children are close in age like mine. Mine are in a center...


A big one for me was - they both have their own time and I like that their day is geared towards their development level. All toys are appropriate for their age.

But maybe they would like to be together more often during the day ?. but then again playing at home at this age usually doesnt go well. My son is stealing the pieces my daughter is trying to play with. Or trying to eat the crayons, markers, stickers she is using. He grabs a piece and runs. She gets upset, He gets frustrated because he cant do what she is doing. IDK I think she deserves that time to be a big kid and not have "her baby" (as she calls him) with her.


When they were little I wanted more of a loving, nurturing center. Which this place was. So I can see a family daycare being that close knit, nurturing experience..siblings being together. Nice to think that they have eachother.


Now that they are 2.5 & 1.5 I'm thinking of switching them to more of a Preschool/ Tutor Time Setting in the next 6 months.

Such hard decisions. Is it right for her ? Is it right for him ? anyone getting short changed here ?