At some point, most every parent considers childcare services. Some parents are fortunate enough to have resources such as close relatives or trusted neighbors to care for their child. Those who do not have that option must decide whether or not a day care center is a practical option for childcare. As with any childcare options, parents must carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages.
Because they have a larger pool of staff resources, day care centers are stable and reliable. In the event of an illness of the staff, children will still receive the care and attention they require. Childcare specialist Eileen Friscia explains the faculty and staff usually have training in childhood development and require background checks to work in a day care. At day care centers, children are assured plenty of supervision.
Preschool teacher Daniel Asres says children also learn socialization skills at day care centers. Under proper supervision, a child learns how to interact with other adult authority figures as well as peers. They learn new rules and games and how to behave appropriately in different social situations. They also learn to listen to different adult authorities who provide new guidelines. Keeping a child at home may limit access to other children, which limits the opportunity for new learning challenges.
With the help of staff, children are provided the structure they need to learn. As many day care centers are staffed with experts, the children are assured access to educational materials, enrichment tools, and professional guidance. This provides a structured, school-like environment that will help prepare them for academics.
First, day care can be prohibitively expensive. When weighed against their working income, some parents decide to forego day care in lieu of taking care of the child at home or with relatives. Often the decision to place a child in day care is based upon whether or not the parent or parents can afford it, or if the benefits outweigh the cost.
Friscia also states that children can learn or develop inappropriate behavior in daycare. When placed in a new environment with new guidelines and authority figures, sometimes children react negatively. If a child dislikes the change, he may act out with crying or tantrums. Also, socialization with other children may present the opportunity to learn words and behaviors which may not be acceptable at home.
Day care centers may also expose a child to the illnesses of other children. A child’s chances of contracting something communicable grow significantly when at day care. Children explore the confined area of the day care center using tactile contact, which creates an ideal situation for the spread of germs and bacteria.