Childcare/Preschool tuitions and information (Houston, The Woodlands: sales, renting, credit)

[plaidfrogg]

We have 2 small kids ( 1 y/o and 3 y/o) and I will need to work full-time at least for a few months, until we get a better sense for our options. I've been trying to find information on childcare and preschools, but as you can imagine, it can be tricky to do just based on internet info w/o referrals...most centers look nice online, and calling just gets me a sales pitch.

I'll break out my points in case anyone doesn't want to address them all....

Location
We will be renting a home in the western part of The Woodlands while we get our bearings. There is a very nice looking center in the area, so that would be convenient, but I don't want to choose just based on convenience if there may be better options available.

Cost
I've been a little surprised at the tuition rates here. Like so many others moving to the area from out of state, much of what I've read and been told is that the cost of living is generally lower/more moderate here, but aside from home prices, I haven't seen much evidence of lower COL. In San Diego, my older child has been in a Montessori preschool, and my younger child has had a private nanny in our home (but is now ready to be in a group), so I really hoped for a reduction in these costs here. Tuition at the center nearest us is actually MORE than the combined costs I've been paying in SD. I thought perhaps it must be a premium location, but as I've called around to other centers, including churches, this seems to be the norm: around $175/wk for the older, $210/wk for younger. Does that sound pretty standard, or are there other good programs with more moderate tuitions?

Times
For the immediate term, we'll need full-time care which is what I'm using to base program comparison. I'm working "west coast" hours so I really only need about 6 hours a day (11-5) but so far the programs I've found are either 8-12, 12-4, or all day....nothing more flexible. I would consider an in-home childcare option, but am not sure how to find reliable information.

Better yet, I'd love to have the kids home with me in the morning, have them attend a program during my key business hours, and possibly find a nanny, mother's helper, or similar to make up any hours a center's program may not cover.

Any tips, suggestions, resources would be much appreciated!

TIA!

[MommiePreMed]

Originally Posted by plaidfrogg

Cost
I've been a little surprised at the tuition rates here. Like so many others moving to the area from out of state, much of what I've read and been told is that the cost of living is generally lower/more moderate here, but aside from home prices, I haven't seen much evidence of lower COL. around $175/wk for the older, $210/wk for younger. Does that sound pretty standard, or are there other good programs with more moderate tuitions?

I was told that the COL was lower, but I have yet to see any real difference. Property taxes are higher in many areas, and homes are only less expensive in neighborhoods that are less than convenient.

As for childcare, the prices that you were quoted are REASONABLE for QUALITY care. There are many centers whose prices are lower but I would not leave my child at any of them.

[sbhubbell]

That tuition sounds right to me, and for me it definitely was cheaper than my childcare at a similar facility in Philadelphia. Also I have found gas to be much cheaper, groceries to be much cheaper and lots of services about 10% cheaper. Even chain restaurants like Panera and McDonalds have slightly cheaper prices here than they did in Philly.

As far as home daycares, there's a website (I can't remember the address) where you can see all the licensed home daycares in Texas, all their incidents and audits and such. I also would consider just looking on Craig's List, there are tons of home daycares on there and you would just have to do some good reference checking and interviewing.

[Topaz]

Here's where you can search for all Texas child care facilities:

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

NAEYC accreditation is one indicator of quality. You can search for NAEYC accredited facilities here.

[plaarveld]

I pay about $250/week for one child in Young Preschool/Early Childhood in a northwest suburb of Chicago. I think it is reasonable, and the NW Suburbs of Chicago is supposed to have the highest day care costs in the nation so in my opinion Houston is lower. When I first considered putting my child in someone else's care, it was hard for me to swallow the fact that I had to pay $1500/mo for her to be in an early childhood program as an infant. Today, she is 3 so the price drops as she moves up in age so we now pay $1000/mo. After thinking about it, I figured any amount is reasonable considering these teachers don't make that much to begin with and I want the best care for my child.

My daughter is in her program for 9 hours a day. When I break it down: I am paying a little over $5/hr for a group of teachers to care for her; feed her 2 healthy meals and 2 snacks; teach her letters and numbers; the concepts of math and science; large and small motor skills; how to read, write and be creative in art; be social and have fun.

Good luck with your search.

[Bob Johnson]

We use Kompany Kids Child Care Center. They provide excellent care in a convenient location on Post Oak, a few blocks away from the Galleria. Our kids really bonded with their teachers. I think their website is Kompanykids.com if you need more info. Hope this helps.

[jlnperez]

My boys go to Memorial Christian Academy. We pay $1000 for both a month. They just got new caterers which we were told they make organic & nothing fried. They classes are small. The largest classes so far are the Preschool, Prek, & Kinder with as many as 16 per class but there is an aide to help. unfornately, there is no discount for 2+ children & the uniforms are from Parker. Other than that we like it. This is our 2nd yr there. Last yr the grade went up to 8th but they lost a couple of teachers due to husbands relocating for this yr the grade goes up to 6th. They hope to find teachers for other grades like 7 & up. They hope some day to go to 12th. They do have child care for younger children it is called Kingdom Kids. They have before & after school care & bus service. All school supplies, field trips, & eye & ear exam are included in tuition.
I do NOT recommend Memorial Lutheran though. Teachers could care less. My niece broke her arm there in the playground & the teachers were busy chatting it up to notice she was hurt. A lot of bullying goes on here. The Head Master's children happen to be bullies too so nothing will ever happen to them. Research the schools. Some will not allow to enter the school not even to pick up your child. We do not like that at all. Make you wonder why. What is going on in there. Good luck & God Bless you.

[jlnperez]

p.s. address of school is 1315 S. Dairy Ashford
# is 281-493-3700
Don't be fooled by the distance. My boys went to Memorial Lutheran On Memorial Dr. just down the street from the Galleria too at the same time my niece was there. We live on Lazy Hollow & it takes the same amount of time to get to Memorial Christian Academy as it did Memorial Lutheran. The reason is you are going away from the Galleria so the traffic flows more & less blinking lights.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by jlnperez

Some will not allow to enter the school not even to pick up your child. We do not like that at all. Make you wonder why.

That would be a deal breaker for me!