Do this…no don’t do that….for goodness sake NEVER do that! You should do this. Be absolutely sure you always do that…
Being a parent is not for the faint-hearted. How do you decide whose advice to take…your parents, your friends, your church, TV, internet, your own little voice? One of the major decisions facing millions of parents every day is the “to daycare or not to daycare” conundrum. For most it’s a necessity, a necessary evil. Others use it as a break from the henpecking from their precious bundles. However it’s used, all options should be considered. It’s not about being “right” or better than your neighbor, it’s about being informed about your choices and choosing the best one for your family.
According to a recent report by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), 63 percent of the nation’s children under five years of age are in some type of child-care arrangement every week; most parents assume such programs are regulated to ensure the health and safety of their children. In reality, that is often not the case.
You know the horror stories. And to top it off, just 10 states require unannounced inspections of child-care centers; only 12 states require caregivers working in child-care centers to have training in early childhood education prior to working with children; and a mere 10 states require caregivers who work from their homes to be licensed.
And, while 63% of children under five are in childcare, let’s not forget how critical the first five years of life are – 90 percent of brain development occurs during those years. “Forty-six percent of kindergarten teachers report that at least half of their students are not prepared to learn,” Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT).
Don’t get me wrong. There are good daycares out there, whether commercial or run out of a home. For example, a Parents.com report indicates that children in high quality child care have better social, math, and language skills, as well as fewer behavior problems. Moreover, several long-term studies have shown that kids in high-quality early childhood programs are significantly less likely to drop out of school, repeat grades, need special education, or commit crimes. In fact, a recent study by the Committee for Economic Development (CED) revealed that for every dollar invested in such programs, taxpayers receive a net benefit of $2 to $4, a significant boost to the long-term economic growth of the country.
Do your research and do the math…perhaps it’s costing you more to put your child in daycare. I know, at one point, the daycare expenses exceeded my mortgage each month.
Now I know what you’re thinking: “Easy for you to say! I have to work, I’m a single parent..what am I supposed to do?” You do what you need to do. If an outside daycare is the answer, that’s fine, but just do the balancing of pros and cons…can you go back to work later in your child’s development (is 6 weeks really enough time for your baby to get attached and bonded?), can you scale back work, can you change hours, can you enlist family members or close friends, can you cut back on expenses so maybe doing with less enables you to stay at home, or can you get involved and vote for the policy makers that make your child’s education and social development a high priority?
Can you work with your selected daycare on getting the message out that kids matter! Because after all, they will run the country some day, so perhaps putting in that extra effort up front, which pays out in spades, is worth it.
At the finish line you won’t look back and say, “I was right or she was wrong”…you’ll be too busy watching your children thrive in their best environment, because you’ll be empowered with the research, the pros and cons and the fact that you made the best decision possible.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
We have relied on some kind of day care or preschool with all three of our children. When they are done right, I think they can be a real blessing. We have become good friends with several people who worked where our children were cared for.
Personally, I am as concerned with the child’s happiness and social development as I am with their long-term learning. When I take my children to and from childcare, I am always alert to what the children express about the care: Are they happy, or resistant? Do they eagerly ask if today is a “school day?” When I say a baby-sitter is coming over, do they ask which one? If so, it implies that something may be amiss.
Day care can be very important but so can being at home bonding with parents. It is hard working trying to find the balance between the 2 so that the child feels bonded to you but also develops the social skills needed for later in life.
an important topic. Liked your putting in the encouragement to do research. Think maybe more could have been said about development in the very early months of life. But a good idea to inspire some ‘critical thinking’ for parents of young children in this decision.