Sending children to daycare is not a decision parents make lightly. Are you a mum currently feeling anxious because you’re thinking about sending your little one to a daycare center? We’re here to tell you not to be so worried. Here’s what you should know about the importance of day care center exposure for your little one’s development.
Importance Of Day Care Center Exposure And Activities
First things first, Mummy. While daycare for kids can have lots of benefits for you, in your heart, your baby always comes first, and so you feel guilty. But daycare can be marvellous for your little one, and we’re not just saying this to make you feel better.
Here are a few ways sending your child to daycare can help them. This is linked to the importance of day care center “education” for little ones.
1. Helps in managing their emotions and behaviour better
A recent study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry states that children in daycare are less prone to emotional problems, separation anxiety and social withdrawal symptoms. They are better behaved in these ways, compared to kids staying with their parents or caregivers all day.
Socialisation helps your child to learn how to share, solve problems and be team players. Dr Francine Lederer works as a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles. She shares that when kids are under the influence of teachers with a good educational background, they learn how to solve conflicts.
Learning how to control emotions can be especially useful to your kids as they approach those famous tantrum years.
2. Boosts their communication skills and language development
According to Psychology Today, a huge benefit of high-quality daycare exposure on your child, is better development of speech and vocabulary.
Hara Marano, writing for Psychology Today, explains that this effect is likely due to early exposure to adult conversation.
Other experts also add to this, saying “children who hear more words on a consistent basis during their first three years have a more expansive vocabulary as they age and develop.”
But mums and dads, this is where the importance of day care center selection comes into play. If quality words are constantly and consistently used by daycare workers, then there’s no doubt this learning will rub off on your little one.
3. Helps in their personal growth
Daycare centres that provide quality programmes related to appropriately handling behavioural issues, giving ample learning and providing socialisation opportunities, stimulation and love, help your child’s personal growth.
Dr Lederer shares that kids sent to daycare at an early age have higher intellectual abilities. This happens mainly because at daycare kids get more opportunities to observe, engage in parallel play and socialise.
3. Helps in improving physical health later on
A study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics states that children in large daycare centres below the age of 2 and ½ years suffered more respiratory and ear infections. But by the time these kids went on to elementary school, they fell sick less often as compared to kids who stayed at home.
That’s not all, Mum! Here’s how sending your child to daycare can help you:
- Whether you’re a working mum or a stay-at-home mum, sending your child to a daycare helps you get organised in your own life.
- If you want, you can start working again, thanks to daycare. That means more financial independence for yourself and better support for your family. What’s more, working can help you find your own identity.
- If you can manage your schedule well, you can get free time for yourself. So no more putting off that parlour appointment or the romantic lunch date you’ve been dying to go on with your husband!
So mums, if daycare for your child is something you’ve been thinking of, but just cannot commit to because of mum-guilt, stop. Daycare is good for both you and your child!
Source: JAMA Psychiatry, Livestrong
This article has been republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore.
