Everything Considered: Grandparent Care vs. Syracuse Childcare Provider

It’s decision time: send your little tike to a trusted Central New York daycare center or ask the grandparents if they are willing to provide 8 to 10 hours of care every weekday for the entire calendar year.

 

There’s a lot to consider.

Opting for in-home daycare by loving relatives is often an avenue for families with a grandparent nearby. Although this option is free, does it actually come with a cost?

 

There are dozens of preschool and childcare programs. How do you sort through all of them to find the best Central New York daycare?

 

Review the pros and cons for both daycare options to select the best answer for your family’s unique needs.

Pros of Grandparent Care

-        Home setting rather than a group setting

-        Typically free or low-costing

-        Precious time to bond and connect with family members

-        Flexible with pick-up and drop-off times

-        Peace of mind knowing your child is with family

 

Cons of Grandparent Care

 

-        Grandparents’ availability constantly changes with other obligations such as doctor visits, appointments, social lives and travel schedules

-        Placing strenuous lifting obligations on grandparents when caring for young children

-        Lack of educational structure

-        Encountering a difference in childcare opinions between you and your in-laws or parents involving values, discipline, food, rules and safety precautions can cause family tension

-        You may be putting grandparents with declining health in a difficult situation where they feel obligated to take care of your second child or even your siblings’ kids now

Pros of Syracuse Childcare

-        Childcare centers maintain the high state-approved standards of quality care

-        Syracuse childcare teachers are certified professionals with their Child Development Associate (CDA), a degree in early childhood education or birth through second grade education or a degree in special education

-        Staff is also regulated by OCFS and required to receive continuing education and training hours

-        Childcare centers offer special holiday activities where families can be involved

-        Classroom sizes follow OCFS standards to ensure individual attention is given to each child

-        Award-winning core curriculum shapes young minds into early problem solvers

-        Daycare includes preschool-readiness lessons to give children an advantage before class even begins

-        Interacting and collaborating with peers nurtures healthy socialization skills

 

Cons of Syracuse Childcare

 

-        Childcare centers are often closed on major holidays and weekends and have a specific set of hours each day 

-        Cost of center-based care (fees are paid on a weekly reoccurring basis)

-        When children are sick there are rules whether or not they’ll be allowed to attend school that day

-        Age groups in separate rooms split up siblings for the day

-        There may be a waiting list at top Central NY State childcare centers

 

Although this decision can feel overwhelming, you are not alone in the process. Connect with your family to discuss any concerns and pull recommendations from friends to see what they did and what they would do differently.

 

Begin touring center-based childcare programs in locations like Oswego, Syracuse, Baldwinsville, Fulton and Pulaski where pick-up and drop-off are most convenient for you and your schedule.

 

During your search, take a moment to explore Little Lukes Preschool and Childcare and meet the caring, credentialed educators that have shaped happy, knowledgeable and healthy children for decades.

Schedule a Little Lukes tour at one of our five locations to see the difference we can make in your child’s life.