Quality daycare often is a necessity for working parents. Even stay-at-home parents may choose to place a child in daycare, at least on a part-time basis, to take advantage of opportunities available in group environments. Study the pros and cons when you're deciding whether to place your child in daycare. Such factors will help you determine which type of daycare is right for your family.
Identification
Daycare is more than a place for children to stay while parents work. A quality program gives children the chance to socialize, refine gross and fine motor development, learn to communicate thoughts and feelings effectively, and practice problem-solving skills. Daycare basically takes the goals you have in your home environment and applies them to a group environment. Neither daycare nor preschool is necessary for school readiness, but children do have opportunities in group environments to practice age-appropriate social and cognitive skills that will benefit them in kindergarten and beyond.
Types
Advantages and disadvantages of daycare vary by type of program. Options include home-based daycare, child care centers and preschool programs. Home-based caregivers typically care for a small group of children in a mixed-age environment. Family home daycares provide a home-like family environment and support emotional development through small group and provider interaction, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Center and preschool care give children time to play and interact primarily with peers in their own age group.
Benefits
Although daycare doesn't take the place of a loving family environment, quality daycare programs enable parents to work and provide financial support for the family. Children benefit from the group play and structured activities a quality program provides. Quality providers are trained to promote healthy emotional, social and cognitive development. Children also develop friendships with their peers and form healthy bonds with other loving, caring adults.
Considerations
Daycare expenses can add up quickly. As of 2010, the annual cost of center care in the United States ranges from $4,460 to $18,773, depending on your location and the age of your child, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. The annual expense for family home care ranges from $3,582 to $11,940. However, this simply reflects the financial need of daycare providers who work hard to maintain standards in materials, activities, environment and training. Licensing requirements vary by state, with centers typically subjected to more frequent inspections than smaller home daycares. Turnover in center care is a consideration, as well, especially since there are variables in temperaments, teaching style and training.
Significance
If daycare is a necessity for your family, take time to choose a program that is suitable for your family and your child. Quality programs are play-based and child-centered; provide clean environments; offer age-appropriate activities; let children make choices; offer nutritious meals; provide constant supervision; encourage children to use language to resolve conflict; and offer a variety of play materials, according to the National Network for Child Care.
