Owners of daycare centers, home daycare providers, and preschools are feeling the effects of our waning economy. As well, parents are responding to our economic crisis by reducing household expenses and sometimes daycare is one of the first expenses they cut.
Statics show that daycare costs average between $3,380 and $10,787 a year for just one preschooler, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies.
OwnADaycare asked childcare center owners and daycare business owners for solutions that may help parents reduce daycare costs. Responses varied:
“The only way to reduce day care costs is to cut back on a child’s schedule or seek out a less expensive program. If a relative is available to help out, parents can reduce the number of days their child attends. With regard to seeking out a less expensive program, parents need to be very careful that the program is run well. As a rule of thumb, programs run by owners are more competitively priced than corporate-owned centers or franchises due to lower overhead, “explains Jann Rudd, owner of Lily Pond Country Day School in Rivervale, New Jersey.
“Parents too are looking at ways to cut child care costs. They may exercise a flexible work schedule to lessen the number of hours/days needed for child care. Also, parents look more carefully at programs now and want to get the best value for their child care dollars. They look carefully at whether there are fees for enrichment programs that are charged in addition to tuition. Ask if your School offers referral fees for referring new families. Parents should look for a safe and secure environment with a high-quality faculty, an established curriculum and enrichment programs, all included in the tuition, “ says Joseph Schumacher, CEO of Goddard Systems, Inc.
“Part time schedules can offer access to childcare at reduced cost. These might include Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule, a Tuesday/ Thursday schedule, or half day schedule. This allows parents to reduce costs, but still receive the benefits of a high quality preschool for their children,” says Julie Moye, co-owner of Kids ‘R’ Kids preschools in Cary, Morrisville and Research Triangle Park, N.C.
Another way for parents to reduce preschool costs is to enroll their child in a cooperative preschool, otherwise known as a “co-op” preschool. The cooperative preschool program is a non-profit organization that relies upon parent participation. While a qualified teacher, director, and staff are often employed, parents are relied upon to run the school and assist in the classroom on a rotational basis. The non-profit business of the preschool is also conducted by parents. This is a less expensive, yet high-quality, option.
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