Many parents like daycare centers because they offer a
formal, structured environment. Many daycare
centers are inspected for licensing reasons, in some cases caregivers are
supervised (many classrooms have multiple teacher), and a director oversees the
complete operation. I didn't feel comfortable with the idea of hiring a nanny.
- I feel such as I'd always want to check up, " says Noelle Harland, the copy editor in Minneapolis, Minnesota, whose 13-month-old son Max is at daycare. "I know taking care of a child may be frustrating and a nanny can also find it stressful. "Rather than be worried about how a nanny might handle her son during particularly trying moments, Harland chosen daycare.
- Another plus: Centers have clear-cut rules for parents to follow (such as collection and drop-off times) which means you know what is expected of an individual. A daycare center is usually more affordable than the usual nanny. Plus, parents have the opportunity to meet other parents who may be able to lend support and also babysitting time.
- Also, the arrangement is more stable (compared to, say, nanny or relative care) because the center agrees to watch over your kid regardless whether any teacher is sick or tardy or even tired of helping you. Yvonne Maltose, BabyCenter mom, agrees. "We chose a daycare center therefore we didn't have to work around someone else's sick days and vacation, " the lady says.
- Staff members at good centers are usually trained in early childhood education so they know what to expect from your child developmentally and are able to nurture his developing skills accordingly. If the center you're considering doesn't hire knowledgeable staff, keep seeking. Good daycare centers include a nice mix of activities during the day to teach different skills, such because singing, dancing, as well as storytelling.
- Scott Huber, whose 3-year-old daughter Lindsay lohan has attended daycare in Portland, Oregon, since she was two months old, says he likes the fact that his daughter spends her day doing projects and honing skills in the structured setting. They're not just playing all day, "he says, "they're learning new things. "Huber says he feels particularly good about his decision to put Lindsay in a center when he sees the jobs she does.
- "Many of the instructional projects are a good mix of left- and right-brain activities, usually made of simple objects such as blocks or beans or vinyl letters for creativity, but presented in an organized, structured, and also methodical way, "he says. Ongoing research by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development suggests that children in quality daycare centers may even have a mental edge over those in other kinds of care.
- When researchers compared kids in quality daycare in order to those in other, equally high-quality childcare situations, and children in centers performed a little better on checks.
Finally, toddlers can benefit from the chance to socialize
with other children, which they might not get to do as often or at all when a
nanny or a relative cares for them in the home.
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