Business
When it comes to daycare, size matters
Rebecca Barnes
Parents today are faced with a myriad of choices when it comes to choosing childcare. Stay-at-home parents and working parents alike must weigh the pros and cons of the choices they make, often struggling to find a solution that promotes the best interests of their kids without placing too heavy a burden on the family budget.
While institutionalized day care has been popular for several years, many working parents who have turned to smaller, in-home childcare services say the higher caregiver-to-child ratio they provide make them a smarter choice.
Smaller centers also can have an edge regarding cost, another big factor parents consider when evaluating potential caregivers for their kids. Melissa Pitchford, owner and operator of Precious Lil’ Angels in Mustang, said her business provides a much higher level of one-on-one attention at less cost than at the average institutional day care center.
“It’s much more personal here,” Pitchford said. “At a big center, one teacher may have 20 kids. Our child-to-caregiver ratio is much better than that.”
Cleanliness is another important dynamic when considering a childcare facility.
“Little ones love to put things in their mouths, so vacuuming is a big thing for us,” she said. “And we use bleach water and Lysol spray like it’s going out of style.” It’s an ethic parents notice, she said. The size of her facility is another factor that contributes to its hygienic advantage. Keeping her enrollment small and her facility clean has resulted in a surprisingly low rate of illness among her toddler clients.
Curriculum at Precious Lil’ Angels is based on the Funshine Express Early Learning series, a program that incorporates lessons for toddlers with art, music, games and other projects that helps little ones learn about the world while building social skills with other kids.
A 1995 graduate of Mustang High School, Pitchford began working as a day care center employee while still in high school and never left the field. Maintaining high standards in all aspects of the center’s operations isn’t easy, she admits, but she wouldn’t want to do anything else.
“It’s hard work, but the rewards of working with small children are so great,” she said. “I truly love what I do.”
For more information about the advantages an in-home day care service can provide to your child, call Pitchford at 376-5889.
When it comes to daycare, size matters
Rebecca Barnes
Parents today are faced with a myriad of choices when it comes to choosing childcare. Stay-at-home parents and working parents alike must weigh the pros and cons of the choices they make, often struggling to find a solution that promotes the best interests of their kids without placing too heavy a burden on the family budget.
While institutionalized day care has been popular for several years, many working parents who have turned to smaller, in-home childcare services say the higher caregiver-to-child ratio they provide make them a smarter choice.
Smaller centers also can have an edge regarding cost, another big factor parents consider when evaluating potential caregivers for their kids. Melissa Pitchford, owner and operator of Precious Lil’ Angels in Mustang, said her business provides a much higher level of one-on-one attention at less cost than at the average institutional day care center.
“It’s much more personal here,” Pitchford said. “At a big center, one teacher may have 20 kids. Our child-to-caregiver ratio is much better than that.”
Cleanliness is another important dynamic when considering a childcare facility.
“Little ones love to put things in their mouths, so vacuuming is a big thing for us,” she said. “And we use bleach water and Lysol spray like it’s going out of style.” It’s an ethic parents notice, she said. The size of her facility is another factor that contributes to its hygienic advantage. Keeping her enrollment small and her facility clean has resulted in a surprisingly low rate of illness among her toddler clients.
Curriculum at Precious Lil’ Angels is based on the Funshine Express Early Learning series, a program that incorporates lessons for toddlers with art, music, games and other projects that helps little ones learn about the world while building social skills with other kids.
A 1995 graduate of Mustang High School, Pitchford began working as a day care center employee while still in high school and never left the field. Maintaining high standards in all aspects of the center’s operations isn’t easy, she admits, but she wouldn’t want to do anything else.
“It’s hard work, but the rewards of working with small children are so great,” she said. “I truly love what I do.”
For more information about the advantages an in-home day care service can provide to your child, call Pitchford at 376-5889.
0 comments
post a comment