&gt;parents should stay home with the kids and play. That interaction with parents teaches kids far more than a lowly paid preschool teacher will.<p>Do you have kids? I have a 2.5 year who has been in a small day care setting (about 10 kids) for 2 years. The effect it has had on her social (and even academic) skills have been pretty amazing.<p>She is learning so much more about how to deal with other people, social interactions, ect than she ever could staying at home with me.<p>&gt;[One parent staying at home with the kids] was done for centuries.<p>Not really. Preindustrial revolution life was much more communal and based around large, multi-generational family units.