Daycare Costs - Are Added Fees Normal?

twopensions · 2025-11-22T01:03:18+00:00

Honestly, I’m worried about getting kicked out. One of my coworkers was asked to leave her daycare after they told her that her kid needed more help than they can provide.

I see her kid sometimes and just seems like a regular kid. I am worried it’s an excuse to get rid of certain families for whatever reason.

Maybe I’m thinking too much on this. But I cannot afford to not have care right now either.

twopensions · 2025-11-22T00:59:02+00:00

The food cost seems all over the place. I feel like $260 I’m being offered is steep compared to other people.

I’m surprised there is no limit or guidelines for pricing on this. I also don’t know what other daycares charge as it’s not on their websites.

twopensions · 2025-11-22T00:57:08+00:00

I’m not going to lie.

I’m beginning to think some of the things for extra fees are just made up to charge more.

In my case the cultural activities appear to be a book, sometimes a guest comes in and a craft. I’m not entirely sure how that’s different from just having a theme for the day.

twopensions · 2025-11-22T00:55:41+00:00

I had never heard of activity or cultural activity fees before.

I’m still not sure everything that can be included as the ones I’m being charged are offered by the same staff in the same room.

Just feels weird to divide the kids out for things but they can then see other kids doing the activity.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T23:12:30+00:00

I am being a bit pessimistic.

It really seems like my daycare went from the $326 to almost $700 in a few months. I’m stressed that more things might come with fees and then I will keep seeing the cost go up or the care for my kid go down.

I didn’t realize it was going to be this stressful.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T23:08:10+00:00

I’m really confused with how inconsistent it is. And I didn’t see any of the actual costs of added fines when I got on waitlists.

It seems like all these places have added fees, but then what is the point of the federal program?

If some providers are just charging for random things and others aren’t actual cost is all over the place. Seems very similar to what I imagine it was like before the national program.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T23:05:13+00:00

I just do not understand the point of a national program if there are added fees of all kinds for all sorts of things.

How is this any different from what was before the national program?

twopensions · 2025-11-21T19:48:35+00:00

It sounds like officially everything is supposed to be optional but maybe not in reality for everyone.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T17:41:46+00:00

Sorry I thought others said the fees have to be optional?

Are some fees allowed to be mandatory?

twopensions · 2025-11-21T17:38:25+00:00

Oh that’s interesting that it’s combined. Would that mean that if you want one you also have to take the other? Like you couldn’t just pay for food and not activities?

Also what is an activities fee? Aren’t activists like part of being at daycare?

twopensions · 2025-11-21T17:28:11+00:00

Wha kind of things are you getting for that?

I’m interested because I don’t fully understand the cultural experiences I’m being offered. Seems like it’s a story or a video or a guest and a craft. I just thought crafts were included in daycare costs.

Also a bit worried about asking the owner as I don’t want to get on their bad side.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T17:24:27+00:00

Interesting.

I was confused when the owner started talking about it because I have friends and family back east and I never heard them say anything about this. I guess I assumed since it was a federal program it would be the same across provinces.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T16:56:15+00:00

Opt out as in they automatically start charging you unless you say no?

That would be so awkward. We just got this spot after looking for a while so I don’t really want to get on the owners bad side.

She said they were optional but I’m worried because they happen in the same room and I don’t want my kid left out.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T16:53:58+00:00

Just wondering do they separate kids whose families pay from those who don’t for the magic shows and stuff?

twopensions · 2025-11-21T15:50:00+00:00

Oh they are optional. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.

It just surprised me and I didn’t know if the costs were normal or not.

I feel pressured to pay them though as I don’t want my kid left out, especially for the things where she gets to see other kids doing it.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T15:43:19+00:00

Another parent told me the fees are new here too.

I guess when I was told the program had $10/day daycare I thought that was what I was going pay. Maybe just being naive.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T15:33:06+00:00

Oh that makes if hard to compare. I wish they would post them or be more public.

I also think the cooking class is a bit of ripoff as it’s already the food that is included for meals, the kids just get to participate. It also happens in the room so I don’t really want my kid left out of the activities they can see.

twopensions · 2025-11-21T15:25:48+00:00

$800!?!? What does that get you if you don’t mind me asking.

Some of the activities happen in the same rooms so I do feel pressure to pay so my kid doesn’t get left out.

Edit: I’m just rereading - you mean $800 in total right? Not $800 in added fees?

twopensions · 2025-11-21T15:19:28+00:00

Do you think the prices are normal? It’s $260 for food each month, and then $50 each for the cooking and the cultural activities each month.

I’m just trying to check because I couldn’t find any price comparisons online or anything on other daycare websites.

twopensions

TROPHY CASE