Minnieland and other area daycares...

Has anyone used Minnieland's location by the high school? Looking to start an infant there in January, or do you have another Broadlands area daycare you can recommend? Thanks!

 

just curious...are there any places here where new Moms/parents can have their small child cared for in a home where they can get individual attention..or is that just too cost prohibitive?

 

I looked into getting private nanny and the cost was very, very expensive. I would look into a lot of daycare centers, bec all of them seem to have a mile-long waiting lists! I ended up going with a private daycare where the person ran a daycare center out of her home but is licensed by the state.

Only problem with this is that we're at the mercy of her whim. For example, she went on a two-week vacation this summer and closed the daycare. I still had to pay her bec she gets two weeks' paid vacation, and I still had to take off time from work to care for my daughter. I wasn't too happy about that deal, so I'm now looking into a facility where I'm at the whim of the owner. Just something to keep in mind.

 

Oops...I meant, I'm looking for a daycare facility where I'm NOT at the mercy of the owner and her schedule.

Some of my neighbors love Open Arms (they like the religious aspect of it), while others highly recommend BeanTree (buth they're very expensive).

 

We used Minnieland from 11/2000 to 9/2001 for my daughter, who was 1 years old during that time. We liked it very much. The only reason we switched was we had signed up for my work's daycare originally when they were just building (before ever using Minnieland) and it was finally ready. We did consider keeping her at Minnieland but decided we could always go back. We haven't gone back, but I would definitely consider it if I changed jobs.

--Joy

--Joy

 

Gotta say mine is at Open Arms, and I love it, she loves it - well worth it. But I was torn when Bean Tree opened because they will have a private kindergarten.

Anywhere else for private kingergarten? - all day program?

 

Nysmith offers private kindergarten, K - 3rd grades from *;3) to 3:00 at 19,240/year. There's an additional charge for PM extended care at 4,230. If interested, check out Nysmith.com. I heard it's a good school, but the prices a bit too steep for my family.

 

Does Minnieland have a website? Also, for people who've enrolled their children there, what did you like about it? Just wondering, as I'm looking for a good daycare facility as well for my 8 month daughter. Would appreciate any and all input.

 

So you don't think home daycare providers deserve vacations from taking care of little rugrats all year? So I guess you don't need vacations from work (if you work) either? It's a hectic business and people deserve time off, even if it is a piddly 2 weeks. I think it's in every contract signed as well...

 

I agree that they should be entiltled to the time off, however, to pay for daycare during those 2 weeks is another issue especially when one has to use their vacation time as well.

But as you said, it is in the contract.

 

But you get paid for your vacation right? So why shouldn't they expect to get paid when they take their's?

 

Oh, I do think they deserve their vacations, etc. What I had a problem with is that she went out of the country and took a little more than 2 weeks. Also, she's very, very strict about what we can and cannot do (time to pick up child, drop off child, etc.), which I don't mind, but when she has a problem, both personal and professional, she doesn't hestitate to say she'll be closing daycare early at my expense, etc. For example, her 7-yr old child had chicken pox a few months ago. My pediatrician told me not to take my daughter, then 6 months old, in for a week or so. However, she still charged me for it, bec she said she left the daycare open and it was my choice not to bring my daughter in. When I pointed out that my dr told me not to and I felt that she provided a bit of an unsafe environment for my baby, she got very argumentative. In the end, I just gave in and paid her, bec I didn't want her to take anything out on my daughter.

I feel if you're running a business and are getting paid for your services, then you need to provide the most professional service as possible. Also, it's everyone's personal choice. I don't want to pay for her vacation, take both my and my husband's vacation time from our work off to care for my daughter, etc., which is why I plan on switching to a more structured environment where they cover such events and we do not have to pay extra. You're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine.