Cost and availability of childcare (Charlotte, Matthews: renting, daycare, house)

[FLtoNC]

I have been looking for preschool/childcare for my 3-year-old and after school care for my elementary school aged child. I have had a hard time finding openings. Most facilities have waiting lists. Also, the cost of childcare here seems to be much more expensive than where I am from (FL). Does anyone else find this to be true or is it just me?

[fauxgal]

Yes I also had the same problem when we got here in Dec. I came from Cincinnati and had a wonderful church child care center that was cheap. I now have my soon to be 4 year old in a very nice daycare but had a hard time finding one that had an opening for her age. And that was a highly rated center. That was also close to the house and work

[catonc]

Originally Posted by FLtoNC

I have been looking for preschool/childcare for my 3-year-old and after school care for my elementary school aged child. I have had a hard time finding openings. Most facilities have waiting lists. Also, the cost of childcare here seems to be much more expensive than where I am from (FL). Does anyone else find this to be true or is it just me?

What area are you looking in?

[FLtoNC]

Originally Posted by catonc

What area are you looking in?

I am looking in any of the following areas:

Waxhaw
Weddington
Wesley Chapel
Marvin
Matthews
South Charlotte

[megassel]

I agree that Charlotte has expensive childcare - it's well above what parenting resources typically cite as "average". We just moved from South Charlotte and left Gateway Acadamy at Raintree - my 4yo DD was there from birth. I highly recommend it.

Have you tried after school programs at the YMCAs in Charlotte? I recommend those, too, and they usually have capacity. I wish I could still take my 7yo DD to the Morrison Y (Ballantyne area), but it's too far from Tega Cay.