When I first started doing child care "babysitter" was not a term that offended child care providers. I think the term "teacher" came along because centers could call their minimum wage employee staff assistants "teachers" and their services "school" at the same time the push for preschool below the age of four became something parents wanted.

When Child Care Resource and Referrals became primary trainers of child care providers they started using the phrase concomitantly with their training that put the kids preschool education onto us.

It went over well with new providers but not so much for experienced providers. Fees remained the same for care as the expectation for educating the kids was ADDED to the expectations on the provider.

More work ... no pay... no thanks

I will stay a babysitter and let parents "homeschool" their infants and toddlers.

I don't mind the term child care provider.

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