Do you think a young child needs daycare for socialization?

Question

Are stay at home moms doing harm to their children?. My MIL has been convinced by my SIL that children need daycare to be social. My child is only 1 years old.. SIL kids are cold and aggressive and they have no friends. The little boy had to cancel his birthday party because no one wanted to come... Did daycare simply fail in their case?

Answer 1

I am going to be honest with you and I am not really sure your stand point on this issue, but I do not believe that children need to have daycare to be social. I am a soon to be stay at home mom of a 6 month old girl, and I have seen first hand children that do not go to day care and get along just fine with other children. It is really all about the mother and how social she is. If she is willing to take time out of her day to spend at the park or with another mom that has children it does the same as daycare would. I honestly think it is better for a child not to go to daycare. I know there are tons of moms out there that choose to work and send their children to childcare, but if we are women choose to have children, why would we not want to be home to raise them. It is ultimately our choice and our direction to make our children social beings and learn how to share and be friendly. So I think your SIL kids that are cold and aggressive learned that because they did not have the guidence of their mother to teach them otherwise. I'm sorry but that is just my opinion.

Answer 2

NO a child does not need to be in daycare to develop social skills I have two very social children we belong to play groups and other activities were they get the same socialization. I send my 4 year old to pre school and my 2 year old will go next year for 1 day a week so there are other option the parent needs to decide what is best for their child stay at home mom doesn't mean isolation nor is there anything wrong with moms who choice to work and\or send their children to daycare.

Answer 3

I think daycare/preschool provides a controlled environment for the children to learn how to get along with others, but it is not the only way to socialize a child. I believe children can get the same benefits from regular visits to the park with other children or mommy and me groups. I think the need for socialization could be an excuse for stay at home moms to get a few hours a day to themselves.

Answer 4

Day care is NOT needed for socialization...find a mommy's group or friends with other young children and your child will be fine. I would suggest finding some sort of organized play group around 2yrs (Our local YMCA had an hour program, two days a week that I took my kids to--they basically read a book, sang a couple songs, and did a craft while the mommies sat in the lobby and chatted). I personally see day cares as a total last resort, but I understand that people have to use them.

Answer 5

You don't need day care to socialize your child.....You can find a mommy and me club where mom's get together for their little ones....Myself I decided to become a licensed child care provider in my home but my little guy looks forward to when we leave the house without all the other little ones...I also had a camera focused on him all the time (video) I read to him all the time and he has grown to become a very popular young man.......we left the city and state where he was born and lived the first 8 years of his life.......we moved 2000 miles away and within 1 month of being in his new school he had made friends with everyone.......He is an honor roll student as well....it's very important NOT to baby talk to your child......They learn quicker if you don't and are very well spoken too.....

Answer 6

When you go out in public see how your kid reacts to others like to the grocery store or the park. If he or she seems comfortable with other kids then take your kid for 1 or 2 hours a day to ease both of you in to it. Mind you their are mothers who have no choice and have to leave their children with strangers what you are asking is really a preference. Maybe you rather just join a group and help your child socialize that way.

Answer 7

NOPE....kids don't need day care to learn socialization, that's a bunch of hogwash....and there are plenty of moms groups where you can get together with your kids and MONITOR their socialization right there....my thoughts have always been, what's the point of having kids if you are going to ship them off to strangers all day. Don't argue with your MIL and SIL, just let them know that your and your husband's preference is to have a hands-on parent, and you plan to work on socialization when the time is appropriate by joining groups and clubs, but not dropping your kids off with strangers all day. Don't try to convince them, they are hanging onto this illusion so that they feel better about their decisions.

Answer 8

well both are good it just depends on what the stay home mom does with them or what kind of daycare they are in....a good day care that has learning and good help is good for children cause it gets them ready to go to school....iv seen lots of day care kids that when starting preschool or kindergarten are a head of the other kids their same age that stayed home with a lazy mom, they know more numbers colors and do a lot more stuff....a good day care cost more but the child is the one that benefits from it..but if the mother spends time teaching while the child is home its good that they can stay home. i guess it just depends on the mother and the kid. but the ones that stay home with mom some times have a very hard time the first years at school cause they still want to be home with mother.,,,,so id say its up to the parent on what they want for their kid.

Answer 9

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

A mother is the best socialization there is for a child. What - you want strangers taking care of your child? And there is no love in a daycare - believe me - no one is going to be there to hold and comfort and care for your child the way you will.

Dang! I wish people would wake up and smell the roses on this one - it isn't daycare that failed the kids - its the mother that fails the kids when she abdicates her role in her children's lives to total strangers because women's lib has taught us that it should be all about what the MOTHER wants to do, not what is right for the child.

If you take care of your child - s/he will be well-socialized just the same. And s/he will know what it means to be loved and cared for - and not abandoned by mommy to others.

Your SIL is an idiot who doesn't want to admit she's made a mistake. PLEASE - I'm begging you - don't do this to your child!

BTW - a mistake most people make is that they have to be doing something with their kid the whole time they are staying home with them. SAHM don't have to engage their child the entire time that they are with their kid - just the fact that MOMMY is there, with the child, and able to care for her/him as her/his MOMMY is the most important thing.

Answer 10

I agree with your MIL. I put my daughter in daycare because I had no choice when she was a baby, now when she started pre-school she is very advanced, sociable, no seperation anxiety, she cuddles the other kids if they are crying for their parents, she's a teachers helper. It feels good to know that she is very comfortable in a social setting without me when I have to go to work. Their are down sides, like them getting sick, but it's not realistic to keep them in a bubble for the rest of their lives, it's better that they build their immune system now rather than later in elementary school.