Comments on: Newsflash: Daycare is a hot topic! http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/ A Community for Blogging Mothers in Greater Seattle and the East Side Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:16:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: hola, isabel » Blog Archive » Is there a mathematical equation for this? http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-1551 hola, isabel » Blog Archive » Is there a mathematical equation for this? Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:42:40 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-1551 [...] precious time with Babboo. Or pumping in the closet at work. And let’s not even talk about daycare. Because dude, that alone may convince us to never have another [...] [...] precious time with Babboo. Or pumping in the closet at work. And let’s not even talk about daycare. Because dude, that alone may convince us to never have another [...]

]]> By: Cat http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-693 Cat Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:21:48 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-693 My kids go to a downtown daycare in Seattle and I was treasurer of the board for quite a while so I can tell you where the money goes. It goes to pay the staff who make an average of $10 to $11 per hour. At our daycare almost 89% of the tuitiion revenue pays the salary/benefits for the staff. Our daycare has 50 kids. In order to have a 1 -3 ratio in the infant room to a 1 - 7 ratio in the pre-school/pre-k rooms, provide coverage for staff breaks, and be open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm takes about 25 staff: 21 teachers, director, cook, admin assistant and accountant. So yes, it's expensive - but you're paying for half of one person's salary -and they have to live on that amount (as I said - an average of $10 to $11 per hour). Unless/until there's a government subsidy, quality daycare will always be expensive. That said - I can't imagine a higher priority for my dollars than ensuring that my kids are in a quality child care center. My kids go to a downtown daycare in Seattle and I was treasurer of the board for quite a while so I can tell you where the money goes. It goes to pay the staff who make an average of $10 to $11 per hour. At our daycare almost 89% of the tuitiion revenue pays the salary/benefits for the staff. Our daycare has 50 kids. In order to have a 1 -3 ratio in the infant room to a 1 – 7 ratio in the pre-school/pre-k rooms, provide coverage for staff breaks, and be open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm takes about 25 staff: 21 teachers, director, cook, admin assistant and accountant. So yes, it’s expensive – but you’re paying for half of one person’s salary -and they have to live on that amount (as I said – an average of $10 to $11 per hour). Unless/until there’s a government subsidy, quality daycare will always be expensive. That said – I can’t imagine a higher priority for my dollars than ensuring that my kids are in a quality child care center.

]]> By: Frema http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-600 Frema Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:03:53 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-600 I'm surprised that they were surprised, too! Hopefully they won't be surprised when they start losing babies! I’m surprised that they were surprised, too! Hopefully they won’t be surprised when they start losing babies!

]]> By: Stephanie http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-592 Stephanie Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:11:13 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-592 That bites. Seriously. That bites. Seriously.

]]> By: Danielle http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-591 Danielle Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:01:37 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-591 Yikes, 20%! Good for you for asking to see their audit! There should be no reason that it should be kept a secret. Our daycare made their audit available for all parents to see...in fact I will send it to you so you can compare. Yikes, 20%! Good for you for asking to see their audit! There should be no reason that it should be kept a secret. Our daycare made their audit available for all parents to see…in fact I will send it to you so you can compare.

]]> By: Erika http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-590 Erika Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:55:29 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-590 I hate that "daycare woes" is, like, a real live term now. And I hate this country sometimes. I know that's so un-PC. I hate that “daycare woes” is, like, a real live term now. And I hate this country sometimes. I know that’s so un-PC.

]]> By: hello insomnia http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-589 hello insomnia Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:25:08 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-589 I would definitely ask for an audit. You should be able to ask where the money goes. Daycares in Seattle are insane. I subscribed to <a href="http://www.childcare.org/" rel="nofollow">Child Care Resources Online</a> and went through 40 centers and home daycares in my area. It was frustrating because those who did have openings wanted an exorbitant amount of money since Nathan wasn't two yet (highest quote was $1,800/month). We were very lucky to find our home daycare provider. She lives on our street! She is not expensive! I found her through Craigslist! I would definitely ask for an audit. You should be able to ask where the money goes.

Daycares in Seattle are insane. I subscribed to Child Care Resources Online and went through 40 centers and home daycares in my area. It was frustrating because those who did have openings wanted an exorbitant amount of money since Nathan wasn’t two yet (highest quote was $1,800/month).

We were very lucky to find our home daycare provider. She lives on our street! She is not expensive! I found her through Craigslist!

]]> By: Marsha http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-588 Marsha Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:20:55 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-588 I guess this is one reason I am thankful I am in the suburbs! I got lucky and daycare was not much more then what I paid previously in Spokane. I guess this is one reason I am thankful I am in the suburbs! I got lucky and daycare was not much more then what I paid previously in Spokane.

]]> By: Bananas http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-587 Bananas Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:12:47 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-587 We signed CJ up on a waitlist for a good daycare when he was 8 mos old. Two months ago we got the call that they had a space (2 days a week only). He is FOUR YEARS OLD. There is a daycare crisis in this city, I swear it. We signed CJ up on a waitlist for a good daycare when he was 8 mos old. Two months ago we got the call that they had a space (2 days a week only). He is FOUR YEARS OLD. There is a daycare crisis in this city, I swear it.

]]> By: Deb - Mom of 3 Girls http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/daycare-woes/comment-page-1/#comment-585 Deb - Mom of 3 Girls Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:03:44 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/10/31/daycare-woes/#comment-585 Daycare is my biggest source of stress and we've had daycare situations that we've loved and ones that we've hated. With 3 kids and me working full time, daycare's been our biggest expense - even more than our monthly mortgage payment usually. Affording home daycares is bad enough - I can't even imagine what a center in a city like Seattle must cost. Good luck! Daycare is my biggest source of stress and we’ve had daycare situations that we’ve loved and ones that we’ve hated. With 3 kids and me working full time, daycare’s been our biggest expense – even more than our monthly mortgage payment usually. Affording home daycares is bad enough – I can’t even imagine what a center in a city like Seattle must cost. Good luck!

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