I also volunteered at kinder care on campus as well...now this was yeats ago but then they were awesome!!! Very nice people and great set up for the kids!! However, do not know what it is like these days!! Good Luck!!!

I have had my kids at Kid-Works for more than 8 years now and I wouldn't take them anywhere else. They have two locations (NW 52rd Ave and Tioga) and we've had much success with both locations. Their rates for infants is $185 per week. It may be a on the high end of the range for Gainesville but I have always felt that I'm getting the best possible care for my kids. How can you put a price cap on the safety and loving care your children receive? Could I have put them some place cheaper? Sure. But I would have received "discount care" in my opinion. Kid-Works is awesome.

I have never put a price cap on the safety of my children or anyones child for that matter. I do agree in some daycares a cheap rate might represent fewer features..However, a high rate doesn't always represent quality care either. I have volunteered in several child care facilities and have seen things even in the high priced centers that if the parents knew they probably wouldn't appreciate. they probably would seek other means of child care. It isn't the actual owner of the center or the director but the staff. The staff is paid a flat hourly rate and lets face it not everyone is in their job for the love of it. Some people actually just work for a check and then you have the younger workers with no patience. There is a lot to consider and really unless you know your child care provider personally..how do you really know what goes on when you aren't there, what is said to your child or about your child..You just never know price doesn't prove anything as far as quality child care. They may have bigscreen tvs and fancy play yards but who is caring for your child???

I agree with you guys, you can't put a price on the safety of your child, ever. I think that the bottom line is that you have to go with your "mom gut." If you are paying the high price and it still doesn't feel right, then it probably isn't right.

Yeah, completely agree, you can't put a price cap on your child's safety, but you also can't pay what you can't afford !!!!! Higher prices does not always mean better care and lower prices does not mean bad care. For everything we do I find out the places that we can afford, then go check them out, meet the people, take a tour, talk to other moms and clients, and like suzy said I go with my gut feeling. And trust me, I have a very good mom gut feeling.I also like places with an open door policy in which I can drop by anytime. And I do just that, to visit my child and also to see what is going on in the care center at different times of the day.

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MrsBigWheel

thanks MrsBigWheel for your reply. I will definetly check out kid-works !!!!
$185 a week is sounding a little more like what we are thinking about. By the way, when I spoke with O2Bkids yesterday I asked about their rate for daycare for infants and it is $202 a week.

Also, from what I understand, they have a video monitoring system of some sort. I don't know much about it, but I was told that you can log on from home and see your child online. I don't know how true it is, but it is worth asking about.

Yes, Kid-Works does have the online video monitoring (accessible by password). Cool feature but now the the novelty of it has worn off (for me), I rarely check it - I sincerly feel that comfortable with my kid there. 100% confidence.

Ditto for Kid-Works! I'm with you MrsBigWheel, my kids have been there for three years, and I hardly even watch the video monitoring any more. I know they're there, safe and having fun -- and that's priceless.

Baby Gator serves UF faculty, staff, and students only...if you can get in for infants I think it is totally worth it. They take great care of my baby. There are opening an HSC center sometime in the fall too for many more infants.

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Originally posted by UTgrad:
We are looking for someplace NAYEC accredited if possible - does anyone know how Kindercare on campus is? thanks

Holy Trinity is NAYEC accredited. We've been very happy with them. Www.htccc.org

My best friend used the KinderCare on campus and HATED it, but she is the only that I know. She said that they a a VERY bad problem with teacher overturn and everyday when she would pick up her son, he would still have his lunch stuck on his face and in his hair. She took pictures and reported it to the director and her respose was, "well these things happen", no sorry or I will talk to the teachers. She got nothing!

Do not EVER, I repete, EVER take your children to Half Pints Learning Center in Jonesville!! Most of the people there are not well educated so they don't really know what they are doing and the director is hardly ever there and when she is, she cares more about telling everyone about her problems and talking about the other teachers there and how bad they are!! This was not a very good experience at all. We were only there for a month maybe, long enough to get any opening in another daycare!! If you need more info, e-mail me and let me know. There is more to it than just that!

Will u send me a quick email to suzyarichardson at gmail dot com? I'd like to discuss this with you. Thanks!

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My best friend used the KinderCare on campus and HATED it, but she is the only that I know.

Our 2-year old son has been at the KinderCare on campus since he was 6 months and we've been thrilled with it. I don't think the turnover rate of the teachers is bad...there are alot that have been there the whole time my son has and I know that the director is working to raise salaries as she knows that it's important to keep the good teachers around. I think most daycares have problems with teacher retention as the wages they are paid are really not great. The only downside is that KCare is pretty expensive compared to other daycares in town...we originally had our son in another place that was much cheaper but we had some issues with it and moved him as soon as a space opened at KCare. With #2 on the way, we are really worried about how we will afford to pay for both of them to be there (but can't afford for me not to work either) but we've been so happy with it and our son loves it there so we will figure out a way to make ends meet. And the infant teachers are awesome (same teachers that cared for our son) and I feel comfortable knowing that they will be the ones taking care of our new baby.