How Children Benefit From Childcare

You've heard all the nasty rumors about child care, but you have to get back to work and you have no choice. But did you know there are benefits to sending your child to day-care If you consider some of these benefits, it will help you come to terms with your own decision whether you have a choice or not. If you can understand some of the ways children benefit from childcare, you will feel you are helping your child grow into a well rounded, happy child instead of punishing the both of you by sticking him in day care.

Babies need interaction with other children. It's never too early to start engaging baby in activities with other children, whether they are other babies, toddlers or older children. Learning to interact with other children prepares a child for baby's first encounter with school.

A day-care environment is a perfect place to get a child used to other children as child will have to do when child enters preschool or kindergarten. Day care is a gentler environment, there are less rules and more flexibility than strict teachers may impose.

Children benefit from childcare by learning self-control, how to get along with others, and how to share. They are initiated into the world of friendship. Without day care, child only knows you; you are his whole world. What a shock to find one day around his 4th birthday child will have to start school and will be away from you at great lengths during the day. Children benefit from childcare by expanding their world to include people other than their parents.

If a child has been in day-care there will be less chance of separation anxiety when child enters school. Child has become used to you being away from him; child has learned to make new friends and can be content without the undivided attention child normally gets from you.

Aside from learning socialization skills, child may also have the opportunity to learn some of the basics such as the alphabet and numbers. This pre-preschool learning environment teaches your child a basic understanding of what will be expected of him once child enters kindergarten. Child learns to listen and accept the information that will be thrust upon him in school. Entering school for the first time is challenging, children benefit from childcare by already having exposure to a classroom like environment.

Once the child enters school, day-care can help with school homework. Some day care facilities also offer after school extracurricular activities like scout meetings, and on-site gymnastics instruction. Once the child is in school his horizons begin to broaden.

Children benefit from childcare, but it is really the parents that make the most difference in your child’s life. When child gets home from day care after spending a long day away from you, child will want to tell you about his day. Ask him questions about his friends, his teachers, his subjects.

Child is capable of interacting with you no matter what his age is, and getting him to vividly describe his day is exciting to a child especially if the parent shows interest. Of course you are interested, aren’t you? This child, a smaller version of yourself, is taking on the world a day at a time, and the choices and desires child has will be a direct reflection of you. Make the most of that opportunity while you can, children are only children once.

How To Prepare Your Child For Day care

The transition from staying home to entering a full time day care can be a difficult one for many kids. There are many things parents can do to make this easier, and to ensure a good day care experience.

The most important factor for any child is to choose the right day-care provider. If at all possible, it may be easiest to place the child with someone they are already familiar with, either a family member or friend. As this is not always an option, many resources are available for selecting a caregiver.

Word of mouth from any friends with children will go a long way towards steering you to a good day care. This way experiences can be relayed, either good or bad, and eccentricities discussed. Bear in mind that a provider who is wonderful for one child may not be for another because of differing personalities; however, if several parents have criticized a source, a genuine problem may be present and that person might be one to steer clear of.

If word of mouth does not direct you to a good caregiver, the Department of Social Services can provide you with a list of licensed day care providers in your area.

Your pediatrician may also be able to give you a care provider suggestion; many family practice doctors get to know their patients well, particularly those with children. If all else fails, you can find it in the yellow pages or look in newspaper classified ads can which can also provide listings for child-care professionals in your area.

Once you have chosen a provider, take your child to meet them. Most providers will wish to meet with you prior to the child being enrolled. Take your child with you to this meeting if possible. This will give them a chance to look around their new environment and meet the person or people who will be caring for them.

If your child has a comfort object and it is permitted, allow the kid to take that object to day care. Most children become homesick for the first couple of weeks, and this will give them a piece of home to hold on to. Giving them a picture of you and other immediate family members to look at when they become lonely may help as well, but make that decision based on your child; it may make the situation worse.

If at all possible, try to stay for a little while in the mornings to help them settle into an activity. This will make the transition easier. If you can, tell your child exactly what time you will pick them up-and make sure you are there. Like knowing what time your workday will end, day care will be easier if your child knows exactly what time they will see you again. This gives them a sense of security.

The most important thing you can do for your children is to send them off in a positive manner. If you are upset over your separation, they will be to, whereas if you seem confident that all will be well and you will see them at the end of the day they will pick up on that attitude.

Remember, it's not too uncommon for your child to cry when you leave. Most children settle in within 15-minutes of seeing their parents leave. Simply say good-bye and walk out the door, you will be able to give them hugs and kisses for being so brave when you return to pick them up.