Finding a daycare for your child/children can be a complex matter. There are so many options out there and there’s so much to consider. Going into your search armed with knowledge of what to look for when touring daycare centers – See my post: “Qualities of a Good Daycare Center.” – makes that search a little easier.

Today, I want to talk about daycare brands. As stated above, there are a lot of options out there and most daycare brands run some kind of ad campaign promoting their brand as the best there is. So, how do you determine which brand is the best fit for you and your family? While I can’t make that decision for you, I can tell you a little about the daycare brands I, as a former daycare/preschool teacher, have the most respect for, and give you a list of what would be my top choices.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Goddard School 

a. Uses what’s referred to as a F.L.EX (i.e., Fun Learning Experience) program that helps children explore & discover their interests.

b. Works to support the needs of families and ensure students know they’re appreciated for their individual talents & personalities.

c. Uses S.T.E.A.M (a.k.a., Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Mathematics) based education.

d. Ranked #1 childcare franchise in the U.S. by Entrepreneur Magazine every year since 2002 (www.franchisegator.com).

2. Kiddie Academy 

a. Curriculum based on a Life Essentials philosophy that focuses on the following fundamental elements of a child’s growth:

i. Character education

ii. STEM-infused technology (S.T.E.M = Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics)

iii. Health & fitness experiences

b. Includes the following subjects in the curriculum:

i. Physical development/health

ii. Social/emotional development

iii. Language & literacy

iv. Mathematics

v. Science & technology

vi. Social studies

vii. Creative arts

c. Encourages a nurturing, educational environment built upon a child’s natural curiosity.

d. Works to include parents in all aspects of their child’s education.

e. Receives 4.6-5-star reviews on Google.

3. Sweet Kiddles 

a. Promotes flexible, high quality, cost-effective childcare for which you are only charged when your child attends.

b. Offers flexible childcare, preschool, and school-aged programs.

i. Flexible childcare: allows parents to use/pay for childcare at the center on their schedule by reserving spots in an online portal. Website notes that minimum stays do apply. Families using this feature are still guaranteed high quality, educational childcare while their child/children are at the center.

ii. Preschool: structured education for children ages 3-5 years old. Parents can determine the days & times their child attends the program. Preschool sessions run approximately 3 hours.

iii. School-age: includes before- and after-school care, back-up care on everyday except major holidays, and summer camps.

c. Uses the Creative Curriculum, which encourages children to engage their natural curiosity to explore and learn about the world around them. Visit the Teaching Strategies website for more information on this curriculum.

d. Receives numerous 5-star reviews on Google.

e. Currently only has NE Ohio locations.

4. KinderCare 

a. Uses cleaning protocols put together by pediatric emergency physicians to ensure a clean & healthy environment for all students and families.

i. Centers are given a WELL Health-Safety rating, which is science-backed and verified by experts. Visit www.wellhealthsafety.com for more information.

b. Early Foundations curriculum promotes a whole child approach to early childhood education and covers the following key domains:

i. Cognitive

ii. Language and literacy

iii. Physical, motor, & wellness

iv. Social-emotional

v. Executive function

vi. Creative expression

c. Provides early education for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old as well as before and after school care.

d. Unfortunately, does not get the best reviews according to the Better Business Bureau.

Choosing a daycare can be a complicated process. It's difficult to find a center that both welcomes and makes your child feel comfortable while also offering services that help you, as the parent, to feel informed. Thankfully, there are, as previously stated, numerous options out there. Please keep in mind that this article is my opinion based on my personal experience with and research into various daycare brands. The above list is not exhaustive and only includes the daycare brands I feel give families the best bang for their buck. If you are a parent searching for the best daycare for your child, I strongly encourage you to do your own research and make your own conclusions about which daycare brand is the best fit for your child and your family.

If you like what you've read here, I invite you to check out my other blog posts on my blog page, Mom on the Spectrum.

Thank you for reading and please check out Mom on the Spectrum on Facebook.

Article published on Medium.