When choosing a Montessori daycare, most parents ask themselves whether they should find one near their home or their workplace. While every family’s situation is unique, there are some basic guidelines to figuring out what will work best with your routine.
Finding a Montessori school or daycare that offers the educational programs you want is only one part of choosing the facility best for your family. The next step is to make sure you find a place conveniently located to either work or home.
If you are not sure what will work best for your family, you can address some of the pros and cons for each. This article will cover all you need to know to make the best choice for your family.
Deciding on a Montessori Daycare Near Your Work
If you have a long work commute, it is easy to think that choosing a center closer to home is better. That way, you are not forcing your child to endure a long commute as well.
On the other hand, some parents who have a longer commute may choose to use the time on the road as time to connect with their children. It really depends on the family.
Here are some pros and cons of choosing a Montessori daycare near your work:
Pros of choosing a daycare near work
It helps children establish routines: Along with giving you time to bond with your child, you also give your child a sense of what it is like to go to work every day.
Your child is closer to you at work: If you have to work late or a meeting runs long, you won’t further the delay of picking up your child.
You get the benefit of using carpool lanes: Many interstates and highways in some states offer carpool lanes. When you have another passenger in your car (like your child), you get to utilize the carpool lane.
You can visit your child in the middle of the day: If you are a breastfeeding mom or want to celebrate a special occasion with your child, like their birthday, you can take a break and see your child.
Cons of choosing a daycare near work
Only one parent can pick up the child: When the child’s daycare is near only one parent, that places all the responsibility of child pick-up on one parent. Unfortunately, this can cause significant issues if that parent has an appointment or other obligations outside their usual routine.
Issues if you have a day off work: There may be a situation where you’re not going to work, but you still need your child to attend daycare. It may create logistical issues depending on why you aren’t going to work, such as going to a doctor’s appointment across town.
Downtown facilities aren’t always a good choice: If you work downtown or in a larger city, often these daycare facilities have challenges suburban centers won’t have. These include a lack of outside space and the availability of parks. Also, these facilities often cost more.
Deciding on a Montessori Daycare Near Your Home
Location and price are the two factors most parents consider when choosing a Montessori daycare. Once you have figured out your budget, you then must consider location.
You may be thinking that choosing a daycare close to home is the best. Here are some of the pros and cons of deciding on a daycare near you home:
Pros of choosing a daycare near home
Both parents can share drop-offs and pick-ups: Parents can share this responsibility since the center is close to home.
Costs of daycare in the suburbs is usually cheaper: If you live in the suburbs, lower price is an excellent reason to choose a daycare close to home rather than work.
You can commute with your child without a car: On a nice day, you can ride bikes to daycare or take public transit. You don’t always have to take them to daycare in your vehicle.
Cons of choosing a daycare near home
You are away from your child longer: When your child is near home, you don’t get to spend as much time bonding with them during the commute. Instead, you are away from them for more hours in the day.
Distance during an emergency is unbearable: If your child becomes ill or injured, or a family emergency takes place, and you need to pick up your child, they are farther away from you at a center near their home.
Commuting traffic may cause you to be late: Should there be an accident or road work on your way home, this may result in additional fees if you are late picking up your child during the facility’s extended hours.
Choosing the Best Montessori Daycare School in Plano, Texas
At American Montessori Campus, we know that location matters. We also know that providing the highest education standards is your top priority. So, whether you choose us because we are close to your home or your work, you can rest assured that your child is getting the best education available.
Contact us today to take a tour and learn more about the programs we offer.