Nanny or Daycare, You Be the Judge

Staying at home with the kids is not a luxury that every family can afford, or that every family wants. After having kids, parents are faced with a huge dilemma—do you hire a nanny, or enroll in a daycare?

It’s a tough decision to make because each comes with their own set of pros and cons. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, as every family is different. The best way to decide what will be a good fit for your family is to identify the pros and cons associated with each option. Here are some pros and cons to consider for each:

Nanny
Pros:

• Your child will get individual attention that is not always possible at a daycare
• You don’t have to worry about getting everything ready ahead of time for your kids because the nanny can take care of that
• You have a little more flexibility in your schedule vs. the standard hours of operation that daycares have

Cons:

• Finding a nanny that fits in with your own personal ideals and values can be difficult and time-consuming
• It can be very expensive to pay someone to come to your home and watch your child each day
• You can’t always know what happens once you leave the house each morning

Daycare
Pros:

• With your child being surrounded by other kids everyday, they have an increased chance to make new friendships, learn more quickly and have more stimulation than by being at home all day with only the nanny to interact with
• Daycares come equipped with good, quality teachers that are trained to help teach your kids the things you may not have time to do, such as potty-training, counting, the alphabet, etc.
• There are certain safety and sanitary requirements that daycares must adhere to

Cons:

• Being around other kids all day exposes your own kids to more germs
• Less of a chance for individualized attention due to class size
• You will have to get yourself and your children ready every morning, as well as make sure that they have all the necessities accompanying them, such as food, diapers, etc.

Conclusion
When it comes down to it, you have to pick which one will fit in with your schedule and your budget. There is no right or wrong answer to the question of nanny vs. daycare—only what’s right for your family.

Have you used a nanny and/or daycare? Share your experiences by commenting below, or on our Facebook or twitter pages.

Content in this blog post was written by Nancy Parker who was a professional nanny and loves to write about a wide range of subjects such as health, parenting, child care, babysitting, nanny tips, etc.

Early Childhood Education: Ensuring Academic Success

Early childhood education is becoming a national crisis, particularly in low-income communities. Learn how to help.

With the next presidential election only a little over a year away, issues are surfacing with not only the economic crisis, but also with the early childhood education crisis.

The Problem
Millions of children from low-income families are starting kindergarten far behind the standard curve. During the ages of 3-5, the brain develops very rapidly, so it’s crucial that even if the child is not in preschool or daycare, parents are involved, ensuring their child’s future academic success. However, in many low-income families, both parents may not be present, or they may both have to work and are unable to afford early childhood education services. Because of this, and other factors such as access to books, children in low-income neighborhoods start kindergarten 60 percent behind wealthier peers.

Prevention
The education gap is preventable, but it will take a lot of time and effort from the government, schools and the community. Jumpstart is a non-profit organization that engages community members to help children in low-income neighborhoods develop literary skills for kindergarten and their education.

How You Can Help
On Thursday, October 6, millions will read with a child to represent year-long educational support for pre-school age children of low-income communities. This year’s Read for the Record book is Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney. If you want to help jump-start a child’s education, learn more.

The First Trip to Daycare Could be Harder for Parents than Children

Learn tips for parents and daycares on coping with the first day

While you may think that going to daycare for the first time may be scary for a young child, it can be just as traumatic, if not more so, for parents.When maternity and paternity leave is over with and it’s time to return to the workplace, parents are faced with some tough options, one of which is daycare. After spending so much time with their newborn, it can be difficult to return to work, but sometimes not going back just isn’t an option. Here’s some tips to ensuring the daycare experience is a successful one:

Tips for Parents
Pick a good daycare center by visiting several different centers. Talk with teachers, ask questions, and try to speak with parents who take their children there.

Review and know the daycare center’s policies. Some daycares charge very high fees if you are late picking up your children, which can definitely add up.

Prepare your child and yourself by having friends or family take care of your child before he/she starts daycare.

Stay busy at work to ensure you aren’t constantly worrying about your child.

Check in during the day to stay involved by choosing a daycare that is willing to openly communicate throughout the day and send photos, videos and updates of your child.

Tips for Daycares
Reassure parents that their child is safe in your hands by answering questions thoroughly and carefully.

Be precise on daycare policies and procedures to avoid any future confusion.

Guarantee student teacher ratios

Stay organized by using a childcare management application, ensuring that children get picked up from daycare by the right party.

Discuss playtime and snacks. Be specific on how much playtime children receive and stress the importance of healthy snacks since childhood obesity is a growing concern among parents.

Connect with parents by sending them photos, videos and reports of their child throughout the day.