Is it better for a young child to attend daycare or stay home with a parent?

Parents sometimes may have to pick between staying at home to look after their child and sending their little one to daycare. While many studies have listed the advantages and disadvantages of daycare, the answer is different for everyone. If a member of the family can look after the child while the parents are away, they would most likely not send a child to daycare.

Grandparents or crèche?

The daycare debate is also more relevant to Western societies, where families are smaller and single parents have to consider options. In India, daycare centers, which are more commonly called crèches, are becoming popular but are not as organized as the daycare system in the Western countries. Young couples generally live with their parents, and the grandparents look after the children while the parents are at work. However, with more of the working population moving to the metros or tier-2 cities in India and living in nuclear families, there is an increase in demand for nurseries, crèches, or daycare centers for their children.

The pros of daycare

Studies have shown that toddlers who spend time in daycare, as compared to those who are with a stay-at-home parent, show better cognitive development. Being away from parents can cause anxiety, but eventually, children learn better motor skills, receive training, and become more independent. Research has also shown that sending a child to a high-quality daycare is linked to better academic achievement in the future years.

Quality daycare is important

In India, daycare is still in its nascent stages, and most centers lack even the basic infrastructure. Many crèches are run from home and may even expose the child to infection-causing germs, making them sick often. Such crèches usually do not have trained staff, medical professionals, or even verified security personnel. In such cases, it is a better option to leave the child with a known family member in a safer environment.

Daycare centers run by private chains, schools, or at your workplace would be a better choice. Such options are safer than leaving the child with a nanny or in a confined family setting. A child will engage in physical activities in outdoor areas, be able to interact with other children, and engage in crafts and reading activities–most of which are not possible in a home setting.

Is the child ready?

Before you decide upon the daycare that is the best, assess if your child is ready for daycare. If the child is too attached, one of the parents might have to accompany the child for a few days. Some children can develop behavioral problems like aggression when they spend a long time in daycare compared to time spent with their mothers. Parents can try introducing a routine like set dinner and play times for the child before sending them to daycare.