Strollerderby

Like you, our girl is in care 3 days a week.

The National Association of Educators has some very good information regarding the long term benefits of high quality early childhood education.

http://www.nea.org/earlychildhood/research-earlychildhood.html

While I think it's always best if a child can be at home with one of his or her parents, I don't look down on families who have to place their children in daycare.  The reality is that most families have to have two incomes in order to survive.  And then there's the whole debate about people deciding to start families and then both parents returning to work, not because they have to, but because they enjoy their careers.  I don't make judgements there either because, it's their choice.

Childcare can have an effect on children. But I think that effect is greatly dependant on how the parents interact with their children when they are actually together.  If the child feels safe, loved and protected at home, childcare isn't going to be a problem.

I think more emphasis should be placed on the parents and the kind of time spent with their children.  As a teacher, I believe that this has a bigger impact on student behavior than day care.  It only makes sense that the time you spend with your children should be quality, not quantity.  Parents should be showing them how to behave in this world.  Manners are not being taught anymore and it is become a sad, rude world.

I felt like I was letting my son down when I orginally came to the conclusion that a daycare center was the only option our family had. Now, 3 years into it, I have decided it is the BEST option we had and wish all those other parents would quit trying make the rest of us feel guilty about it. At 3 1/2, my son interacts better with other kids and new grown-ups than most stay-at-home kids do. He has been able to select his friends and develop true friendships with some of his classmates. He's used to the idea that Mom and Dad leave, but that we come back and he will get all the love and attention that he needs from us then.  He got through the separation anxiety as a baby and now is a calm toddler when we kiss him goodbye. As a first time parent, it was a relief to have experienced professionals to ask about behavior issues, health concerns, and other baby stuff. They've seen it all!

He's also received genuine LOVE and friendship from some very special teachers and caregivers along the way. They say it takes a village, and in our fragmented modern world, here's one way we've found one. Not all daycare centers are equal, but it is possible for the whole family to benefit from the right one.

I couldn't wait to get my daughter out of the clutches of her babysitter and into a full day preschool/day care when she turned two. I hated having to struggle to keep the sitter from giving her junk food, wondering what they did all day, etc. At school she ate what I sent with her, was in a safe controlled environment, singing and dancing and learning Spanish with great teachers who were all trained in Early Childhood Education. The only downside to me is that daycare is more work for me since I have to prepare lunches and make sure I can get there early enough to pick her up and deal with school holidays.  

my daughter goes to "day care" three days a week for about 5 hours per day while I study. She is only 8 months old but loves it. She loves the interaction with other babies. Quite frankly, she gets bored with me sometimes no matter how many things I try to come up with to do! But that's our baby, she's social. Some scream and cry the whole time. Each child is unique.

I don't necessarily believe the stay at home mom is the "best" way to go if mom is frazzled and mentally checked out. Quality, not quantity.