Hot Topic (6/3): The effect of childcare on children

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

From the CBS news website:

(CBS)  For a long time, parents have grappled with the issue of whether or not to put their kids in the care of others.

The issue is a confusing one, as child development experts have disagreed on whether childcare can negatively effect a child's well being.

Now, two new studies in the journal Child Development have rekindled the debate over the effects of non-maternal childcare on children's behavior.

Both studies found evidence that suggests the longer a child spends in childcare, the more stress they may experience, and that could lead to the young to become aggressive and disobedient.

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Your reaction? 

[CAarmywife]

my kids arent in daycare because there is no need (sahm). if i did need to work thats where they would be because we live no where near any family member (many family members run daycares). i dont find it negative what soever. comparing my child to her cousin who is 4 weeks older, that child is much better behaved than my dd, her delevopment is ahead of my dd, sharing, etc(sad but so true.) maybe it depends on the amount of hours.

[ddbz]

I know that I'm fortunate to have been able to stay home with my kids, but I worked for an in-home daycare provider for a short while and couldn't believe what she got away with, especially with the toddlers.

I didn't even bother to call the authorities on her because she was such a natural liar.

However I think the issue is whether or not you can find a trustworthy care provider, even though you never can tell ...

 

[resamerie]

Only relatives now. Even though I'm a SAHM, I thought it would be good for her to go p/t last summer just to have interaction with the other children. Just like the mom above me, I ended up working there. That's when I realized that all the happy pics the lady took (it was in-home also) were just photo ops that she forced them to pose for to make the parents feel all warm and cozy inside. My DD is home with me this summer. I will never send her off again. We're enrolled to do different programs at the library this summer so she will be around other kids.  

[tabtabmom]

MY daughter went part-time while I was in school this year, and she never liked her teacher in the morning ,nut loved her afternoon teacher. Mostly she got sick a lot, and she is better behaved since she had been home. I think there are a lot of variables. It depends on how they are treated at home too, and the child's personality.

[ritzbit]

I am a home day care provider, so of course my children have been in my own day care since they were babies.  In regards to the other children, I don't think that they turn our disobedient or aggressive because of child care.  That all is part of their personality or upbringing, whether they have attended or not.  I've had some who are more aggressive than others.  I've had some really mellow, calm children too.  I believe it's a mixture of nature and nurture.

[aidansmommy961]

DH and I live in a very expensive area so we can't afford for me to be a SAHM. As much as I'd love to be at home with my son, I can't. I spent 2 years as a teacher's assistant in a kindergarten and can tell you that the kids who spent time in daycare were better adjusted to listening to someone other than mom. Many of the kids who prior to age 4 or 5 had only been with mom didn't like listening to me or their teacher. It took most of the school year to break them of this. So in my experience, it is the opposite with kids who've been away from mom.

[rnjMOM]

Quoting ddbz:

I know that I'm fortunate to have been able to stay home with my kids, but I worked for an in-home daycare provider for a short while and couldn't believe what she got away with, especially with the toddlers.

I didn't even bother to call the authorities on her because she was such a natural liar.

However I think the issue is whether or not you can find a trustworthy care provider, even though you never can tell ...

 

I could not agree more. My kids are in daycare full time. Not by choice.  They have only been with two different ones. They were in a wonderful place in TX where I could look in at any time online and see my kids through the cameras, and here in KS, I went off of recommendations from other mothers and found my by far favorite.  She takes the kids bowling, to the park, movies. She is certified not only through the state, she has a national credential and is certified through on-post.  She is like a grandmother to them and they love her.  My kids are old enough to say if something was going on, but sometimes I have to beg them to come home with me...LOL! Also, if I am not at work, my kids are not at daycare.  Same with the hubby, if he is not at work, the kids don't go to daycare either.  It is all about finding someone you trust, and making sure you kids like going there and are comfortable in their surroundings and people they are with.

[LeilaR1]

The wide range of childcare environments needs to be taken into account before making the types of conclusions refered to in the OP.

Before deciding to return to work I went to about 15 child care facilities in my area. The majority of them were crowded and loud. Certainly these places would be stressful to spend your time in. I was stressed being there for 10 minutes! However there were some that seemed very relaxed and orderly. In the end I chose to send my little ones (2 and 4) to a Montessori School and pay for their after-school program. I love it, and the kids do too. The teachers have both been there for years (so there is consistancy), and have a very gentle way about them. I cannot imagine how that sort of influence and environment would produce aggressive disobedient children.

[athenax3]

As usual, I think the answer can be different for each parent, child and family. Some kids thrive in a daycare settng, some don't. Some families have the option, many do not. I don't think ANY decision in this area is flat our detrimental. I know what works for me and my family, I respect what works for others, and I don't think any study can really determine the effects on individual children, there are so very many different personalities- and each one is unique.

[dereksmommy1227]

 My son was in daycare from 6 months to 1 year because I had to attend class in the classroom and had to have a job to pay for the care he recieved since I was in school all day 3 days a week. I hated being away from him but it did give him time with other children which I liked. 

The church down the road has a preschool. You can choose to do full time Mon-Fri which is 200 a month, you can do Mon-Wed-Fri which is 150 a month or you can do Tues-Thurs which is 100 a month.  The hours are 9am to Noon.  I'm thinking about placing Derek in the T&Th class because he does need time with other children and I need a break to.  More power to them supermoms out there who always want their children around them 24/7 but I'm sorry I'm a person to and I need my time as well. My husband will also be deployed so I'm really going to be going at it alone becuase I have no family here. Them 2 days a week are going to give me some time to myself which I'll cherish because that is the only time I'll get me time.

I don't care about statistics and things I see on the internet.  If I am geniunally concerned I'll ask my doctor.  I think my son will enjoy time spent at preschool with other toddlers his age and I think that he'll make friends and in turn I'll make friends around here and we can form playgroups and what not.

Call me a bad mom or whatever you feel like calling me but I believe preschool promotes social skills and helps children get ahead.  Parents can teach there children but early childhood educators are trained to enhance children's social, physical, and emotional wellbeing. Some parents have to work. Whats gets me if the mothers who are always complaining about being broke living on public assistants but yet they don't get a job. Yeah I know daycare costs money but if your making 400 a week and only 100 goes to daycare you still contributed 300 to your family which inturn could pull the parent out of poverty. If I had to work to support my family I would. 

I hate being away from my son for an extended peirod of time which honestly isn't healthy.  I've become dependent on my son as he's become dependent on me and I don't like that. Even leaving him with my best friend drives me insane but I know that I need me time and I know that he needs to play with other kids. I think that him going to preschool will be good for both of us. I can still have the rest of the week with my son as the rest of the day with him but for a couple hours he will be doing his baby thing and I'll do my grown up thing