the Cost of Private Preschools

I use a daycare/preschool center in my area 8 hours a day while I'm at work. The preschool center has highly trained professionals that are trained to deal with children with developmental disabilities. There is a full time nurse on staff and the daycare is held in a school like atmosphere where there are classroom, age appropriate learning activities, arts and crafts and a library of age appropriate reading materials. The school also boast a brand new beautiful playground complete with miniature water park and dozens of outdoor activities. There are also field trips, nature walks and class projects. The most important feature to me is that they have an "open door" policy and parents are encouraged to visit as often as possible.

I could not be more pleased with the services I have received. Because of the credentials of the school and training of the staff, I can feel safe leaving my child in their care. My daughter has flourished in leaps and bounds and receives and enormous amount of personal attention from the staff. Although this particular nursery school is geared towards children with developmental disabilities, my daughter is typically developing and has benefitted so much from dedication and professionalism of the staff. There is nothing like being able to stay home and raise your children yourself, but if nursery school or daycare is your only option then it is worth the money to have peace of mind and know your child is being well looked after.

When looking for a nursery school or daycare center, don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Ask to see certifications of the staff, find out if anyone is trained in CPR and ask to see their credentials. If any school is reluctant to let you see the play areas where your child will be taken care, there's a reason and it's probably because its dirty and unkempt. If they discourage parents from stopping by to visit it means they have someting to hide. Ask other parents in your area if they use daycare and if they're happy with their services. Cost is always a consideration, but you shouldn't put a price tag on peace of mind. When you consider what a responsibility you're entrusting to the people who will be caring for your child, do you really want a bargain? Or do you want to know your child is receiving the best care available.