What's wrong with daycare...?

Question

I've heard in several instances that sending a child to day care is wrong. I don't understand this. If you check out the day care before hand and know it is a good, caring, and reputable place what is wrong with it? Do you see day care as a threat to parenting? What is the difference between day care and school? If it is such a horrible thing to let our children be with other children who have different values and whose parents have different parenting techniques, should we not send our children to school either?

I just wanted to add--I am a stay at home mother, my children don't go to daycare, but I do encourage socialization other places.

Answer 1

This is a good point. Some people make it sound like you're a bad parent if you send your kids to daycare, and others say your kids aren't socialized properly if you keep them at home. I personally want to stay home with my kids for as long as possible, at least the next 4 years until my oldest starts school, because I spent a lot of time with sitters as a kid. I wet the bed because I was scared of my sitters and I have no memories of my parents before about the age of 6.. I don't believe my parents were bad parents, I believe they were doing what they had to do to take care of 4 kids. Neither of them had college degrees and since my father is legally blind he has income limitations to keep his healthcare. Daycare is a personal choice and there is nothing wrong with parents who choose it.

Answer 2

It's great to have someone watch your kids if you have to work. There are a lot of caring people that can care for your kids. I still think that ideally young children should be with mom. That's the difference between daycare and school: the kid's age - not the fact that they will be around people that think/act differently. Young children really need a lot of mommy. Hey, if mom has to work, then make sure the daycare provider is loving and affectionate. I do think it's wrong if a parent puts their child in daycare everyday, all day long and they are just having "me" time and not working. Then, you are truly paying someone to raise your kids for you.

Answer 3

I had no choice but to send my son to daycare when he was 2. I found a great woman who had 4 children of her own, all various ages. He loved it there. Then we moved and I was in a new area and didn't know anyone so I opted for a day care center I thought was adequate upon just stopping by and asking questions. They neglected my son, he broke his big toe with the top of the toilet tank fishing for alphabet magnets, then a few weeks later he was able to pry an electrical socket out of the wall with his fingers. He was bored and no -one paid enough attention that he was unattended to do these things and I had to pay to fix them. We also experienced horrible seperation anxiety. Then I found a better daycare/preschool center that really had hands on adventures and learning experiences and challenged him to be the bright/intelligent person (13 1/2) he is today. I don't like the school he attends but because of where we live my options are limited.

Answer 4

My opinion is that some have traumatic incidents or hear about traumatic incidents and care not to venture in those waters again. My experience having raised as many as I have - those that had daycare/preschool before school were more socially adept. Not that I as their parent didn't teach any more or less to each child, but I think the intermingling with others their age really helped them to be more socially active once they hit kindergarten. And I and my family have had our share of daycare "horror" stories as well. This doesn't mean that every home we leave our kids with will be that way, there is nothing that says you cannot make a change when you feel one is needed. I pray you will make the right decision for your children. Prayers =)

Answer 5

Many people think that those who sent their children to day care are just passing their own job off onto someone else. Many people don't have a choice and I don't think it is fair to make them feel bad about doing it. Others want to for so their kids can be with their peers. And the there are those that send thier kids to daycare while they care for aging parents. But many people don't even consider that others have the right to make choices for their own children - it's do what I would do or you are a terrible parent.
I'm a SAHM and I appreciate the choice that I was able to make.

Answer 6

You're so right. There is no difference between school and daycare.

I worked in a child care facility during my pregnancy and my daughter attends one now. I am totally for it. She had personal in home care until she was 18 months old. At that point she went to real day care and i've seen nothing but improvements. Not only her speech, but how she interracts with myself and others. She is talking more, using manners, she has developed a LOVE for coloring using markers and crayons and is sharing. I have to work... being a SAHM is not an option for me. I'm happy to bring my child to a place where they teach the same things that i'd be doing if i was able to be a SAHM. I am all for it and support it 100%.

Answer 7

My honest opinion with daycare is this. If a mother is going to have a baby, then they should STAY HOME and take care of that responsibility, or else don't have kids.

Sure there are exceptions to the rule, but society today seems to make a career out of it. How pathetic!

Answer 8

There is nothing wrong with sending your child to a day care, it is a great opportunity for education and socialization for the child plus it helps the parent not to be a helicopter mother as the child gets older because it forces separation early.

It is also the parent's responsibility to do the things you stated like check out the school, talk to other parents, check the better business bureau etc before sending their child there.

Answer 9

I don't see anything wrong with it. My mother has been a day care provider for at least 15 years. That may be the reason why I see nothing wrong with it, but what's wrong with dropping your children off when going to work?

Answer 10

I don't think there's anything wrong with daycare, assuming you have to work. I'm willing to bet the same people that gripe and complain about it would gripe and complain even louder if they found out you were refusing to work so you could stay home and keep them out of the evil daycare, yet living off the government to make ends meet. You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

However, if you're a stay at home mom and your child goes to daycare anyway--something's wrong with this picture...