are facility, it's often harder to use your intuition, as the environment is more corporate, so your sense of things is altered.

Since the in-home provider is residential, odds are they're closer to your home. This is a wonde

If you have small children, chances are child care decisions are an important part of your reality. After all, most of us work for a living, and we can't always rely on family. For most parents, the search for an ideal child care setting is difficult. Sure, there are loads of pamphlets and ads for you to read through, but often they lead to an unsatisfying and confusing end. You obviously want to make the best decision for your family, and the following guidelines will give you some direction.

Let's look at the pros and cons of a daycare centre vs. home based daycare.

When you walk into an in-home provider's home, it's easier to get a sense of atmosphere. What is your immediate gut feeling? Is the space bright and cheery? Does it have a pleasant odor? Does the child care provider seem calm and pleasant? If there are children present, what is engaging them at the time, and do they seem happy? In a daycare facility, it's often harder to use your intuition, as the environment is more corporate, so your sense of things is altered.

Since the in-home provider is residential, odds are they're closer to your home. This is a wonder

etting is difficult. Sure, there are loads of pamphlets and ads for you to read through, but often they lead to an unsatisfying and confusing end. You obviously want to make the best decision for your family, and the following guidelines will give you some direction.

Let's look at the pros and cons of a daycare centre vs. home based daycare.

When you walk into an in-home provider's home, it's easier to get a sense of atmosphere. What is your immediate gut feeling? Is the space bright and cheery? Does it have a pleasant odor? Does the child care provider seem calm and pleasant? If there are children present, what is engaging them at the time, and do they seem happy? In a daycare facility, it's often harder to use your intuition, as the environment is more corporate, so your sense of things is altered.

Since the in-home provider is residential, odds are they're closer to your home. This is a wonde

lines will give you some direction.

Let's look at the pros and cons of a daycare centre vs. home based daycare.

When you walk into an in-home provider's home, it's easier to get a sense of atmosphere. What is your immediate gut feeling? Is the space bright and cheery? Does it have a pleasant odor? Does the child care provider seem calm and pleasant? If there are children present, what is engaging them at the time, and do they seem happy? In a daycare facility, it's often harder to use your intuition, as the environment is more corporate, so your sense of things is altered.

Since the in-home provider is residential, odds are they're closer to your home. This is a wonde

iate gut feeling? Is the space bright and cheery? Does it have a pleasant odor? Does the child care provider seem calm and pleasant? If there are children present, what is engaging them at the time, and do they seem happy? In a daycare facility, it's often harder to use your intuition, as the environment is more corporate, so your sense of things is altered.

Since the in-home provider is residential, odds are they're closer to your home. This is a wonde

are facility, it's often harder to use your intuition, as the environment is more corporate, so your sense of things is altered.

Since the in-home provider is residential, odds are they're closer to your home. This is a wonderful opportunity for more time with your kids, and less time driving them around. Also if it's closer, the fuel savings over time would be a bonus.

In someone's home, there are usually fewer children. This means your child should receive more individual attention and is less likely to get lost in the shuffle. The home setting is often less strictly scheduled too, so if your child enjoys a certain activity, he/she could spend more time on it. The setting in a home isn't as institutional as some daycare centres, so it may be more welcoming -- especially to a shy child.

In an in-home facility, the overhead is lower, therefore the cost is usually lower as well. This benefits parents on a budget. Another benefit over a daycare centre is flexibility. It's often easier, and cheaper, to arrange early/late pick up's/drop off's in someone's home.

Of course there are some disadvantages to having your childr