Childcare has become a major household expense. For most families, childcare is not a choice these days. It is a necessity. The affordability of quality, reliable childcare options is a concern for most parents especially in today’s economy. Price, therefore, becomes a huge factor when selecting amongst different types of daycare.
Daycare centers are facilities dedicated to providing childcare to groups of children of a wide range of ages from infants through preschool-aged children. Parents who chose to put their children in a daycare center can expect to pay on average $200 to $300 per week per child. The cost of daycare can be higher or lower depending on a variety of factors.
Factors that Contribute to Daycare Center Costs
Type of Daycare Center
The cost of enrolling a child in daycare will vary depending upon if the daycare center is a chain center, a nonprofit daycare center, or a corporate daycare center. Daycare costs also depends upon the quality of care the child will be receiving. Quality daycare centers are state-licensed and often have received other types of accreditation from non-profit childcare organizations. Parents will pay for more daycare as the quality of care increases.
Age and Number of Children Enrolled
The younger the child, the more parents can expect to pay. According to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) full-time care for a 4 year old in a daycare center can cost up to $10,000 per year while the same care for an infant can be as high as $14,000. Of course, the more children families enroll in a daycare center, the more their childcare costs will increase.
Part-time vs. Full-time Care
If a child receives part-time care only or if childcare in only needed during the summer months, the cost of daycare is significantly reduced.
Geographic Location and Daycare Costs
Daycare center costs will vary depending upon they daycare’s location in the United States since the cost of living and daycare costs go hand-in-hand. For example, NACCRRA reports that families will pay more when enrolling their infant full-time in daycare centers in New York, Wisconsin, Washington, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Illinois and considerably less in Ohio, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
As parents consider these factors when selecting childcare, they must also consider that daycare centers are one of the most safe and reliable childcare choices. Daycare programs tend to be well organized and structured as compared to most family daycares. Daycare centers are more likely to provide children with the tools necessary for kindergarten readiness. In addition, daycare staff members usually have an early childhood education background.
If parents choose to put their children in a daycare center, they should search for a school that is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC-accredited programs have demonstrated a commitment to providing high quality programs for young children and their families.
