Our infant was in this daycare for 6 months. This provider is an incredibly loving carer. Below are a couple specific examples of why we have been so pleased. We left only because we were relocating out of state.
-- First, and perhaps most importantly, our son was pleased to see her in the morning and, when I picked him up in the evening, he would still look around for her and smile. To me, this is one of the most telling signs of good care -- your child feels happy and seeks out that adult.
-- Our older child was at one of the big, highly regarded, institutional daycares when she was an infant. In her first weeks, she stopped babbling. Our son never had that kind of developmental set back at this daycare. Again, another sign that he was still receiving a high level of interaction, communication and attention.
-- He is advanced in his motor skills. While some of this is innate, clearly she has given him plenty of time on the floor to encourage him to move and develop core muscles. It is very evident that he was not abandoned in a bouncy seat all day as some care providers may be tempted to do.
-- The mixed age group probably helped him as well. He naps well at school because he sees all the others going down for a nap. He also learned to play by himself -- the other kids did it, so he was content to do so as well. He will happily explore a toy or game independently, which is good for such a young age.
-- I was also pleased with the number of toys at this daycare. There is a whole wall of toys for different age levels. Again, this is another sign that your child is being stimulated and encouraged to explore and progress.
-- Lastly, this in-home daycare really has a home feeling and the children become like extended family. She would send my son home with leftovers from lunch because he had enjoyed it so much, and her older children played with him after school, affectionately adopting nicknames for him.
We were very pleased with this daycare and would recommend it to others with small children who seek a caring, supportive environment for early childhood development.