should I put my 4 year old in daycare?

Question

I'm not too sure about this one. She usally stays with my mother while I'm at school or work. But recently shes been coming up with imaginary friends and i think its time for her to meet childern her own age.

Answer 1

Imaginary friends isn't a bad thing. Shows she has creativity. As for daycare. I do home child care and the children love being here together. They have such fun. But remember she will be exposed to more illnesses than she would be otherwise. It would be your decision.

Answer 2

Very few people actually know what goes on behind the scenes in a daycare!

Daycare can be good ( I have to say that, I run one). They get social interaction,but there is a lot you should look at:
do they have a preschool
are they liscensed by the state or a registered ministry?
are the employees gentle, but firm, clean, informative.
Do they have appropriate activities for each age?
Most of all, spend some time there first.
I worked in a daycare for 3 years and that is why I will not go back to work until I can send my kids to school (I run a home daycare, and even thought I love it, I don't reccomend it unless it is liscensed. At a home daycare with only 1 person there is no one to give a break. It is hard for them to watch the children and fix lunch, and go potty, and clean up messes, and take the other children to the potty. Plus the temptation is always there to do "home things" while on daycare time.
A play group would be another option of meeting children her own age, then your mom could still watch her when you are not there. In a year she'll be starting school, do you really want to change up her whole schedule for that long? It is a lot to think about isn't it!

Answer 3

It's not unusual for children that young to have imaginary friends.

Are there no other children around where you live or where your mother lives that she can play with?

If you feel she can benefit from spending time in a daycare, then do so. It would probably give your mother a break as well.

Only thing I would take into consideration is if you can afford to send her to daycare. That bill added day by day can add up. Maybe put her in daycare about half the time if cost becomes an issue.

But don't be too alarmed about her imaginary friends. Many children come up with them and eventually grow out of that phase.

Answer 4

Find an all day pre-school, and do it now so she has a year before kindergarten.

Our daughter had been going to a family friend since she was 3 months old, but needed a more structured and learning sort of environment.

We really had a hard time deciding to do it, but I am so glad we did! We sent her to A Child's Place starting last September, and it has been great. She has learned so much this year, and gotten used to being in a classroom environment. Her teachers are supportive and loving with the kids. Also, they have an all day program since my husband and I both work full time.

Good luck with your decision. Make sure you research whatever place you put her very thoroughly and call the county to make certain that the place has no violations and things like that. Make certain their staff is licensed.

The other thing is cost. I pay $190 per week. But it is worth it.

Best of luck!!!

Answer 5

I know what you mean.

My little one is 3 and next month I'm going to start her in a program that is 3 mornings a week, for a total of 9 hours a week. That way she has some exposure to other children and yet she's not in a "daycare" setting all day long.

You can check out some of the larger daycares or pre-schools in your area and see if they offer something like this.

Good Luck

Answer 6

Yes. Its time. Get a good daycare center and talk to the adviser or day care person in charge and explain the situation. At the same time, check out the place first and check for security, safety, the environment, cleanliness and see an on going class so you'll know the type of environment your daughter will be in. Maybe your mom can accompany her during the first few days until she gets used to seeing other kids.

Answer 7

Wow, when I first went back to work, I had our daughter in daycare. Then came the opportunity for me to stay at home with her and I took it. One of my fears was that she would not be socialized. So before I took her out of daycare, I talked to one of the providers and she suggested that at the age of two, to put her into pre-school, before she got too clingy with me. This would allow her to 1) learn to be on her own, 2) prepare her for a school structured schedule and 3) learn social skills with other children.

If your daughter doesn't have things like Gymboree or swim class where she interacts on a schedule basis with other adults and children, or church activities to interact with other people, then my suggestion would be "yes", put her in daycare or preschool. It will help her and you for the time she goes into kindergarten, which I am not sure who that is more painful for... the parents or the child.

Good Luck.

Answer 8

I think it is a wonderful experience for your daughter if you put her in day care. She can make real friends there, A whole day is completely structured and she will also learn how to be around others her age. Ofcourse you do know that she will probably get sick more often since day care centers are full of germs. But hey this is life right.

Nothing bad can come out of this soo I thnk you should go for it.

Ohh and if you aren't sure you can put her in day care center for just 2 days a week and so how that works for her. Plus I am sure you don't want to completely take her away from Grandma.

Answer 9

Since you can be flexible, a conservative rule of thumb is one hour for every year your child is old. So, four hours of preschool a week (possibly over 2 days) would be a great idea.

P.S. Nothing wrong with imaginary friends. You can learn a lot from a child by asking about their friends, real or imaginary.

Einstein said, Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Answer 10

It is good for them to be around children their own age, but remember that when you put your child in daycare, the daycare provider is raising your child, not you.

I babysit children full time in my home, and they are with me more waking hours than they are with their parents. I see them cry when their parents leave, lash out because they don't understand their feelings, and behave when they're with me and then throw tantrums as soon as their parents come. I think that some parents feel guilty for leaving them so much that they relax the boundaries when they come home, and that confuses the children, who need consistency. So think about it!