Daycare

[theOperaGhost]

Ok, you're probably thinking...wtf, how is daycare a debatable topic? Well, it's not really the daycare part that I'm debating. I'm debating whether parents should put their children in daycare.

I think that in America, there is too much emphasis on going into the work force and earning income, rather than family and children. So, in order for parents to go to work, they take their children to a daycare, or in my opinion, something worse, they hire a nanny. I think that one parent, be it the mother OR the father, stays at home with the children until they are school age. I mean, hiring a baby-sitter from time to time is acceptable of course, but parents aren't even fucking raising their children anymore, a daycare is. I can only see one advantage to daycare, getting acquainted with other children, that's it. Parents need to spend more time with their children when they are under school age, since it is of course the biggest time for bonding, which is important.

I won't specify a parent that should be the stay at home parent, because if I said the mother, that would offend feminists, and I do believe women should have equal rights as men. Although I think the bond with the mother should be the strongest, so I would prefer a mother to be the stay at home parent. (I am not sexist, BTW) I feel that the mother-child bond is a much tighter bond, but that could also be because of the traditional stay at home mom thing, thus fathers were out working while mothers were bonding with their children. I think it is great that women are out working, so maybe there should be more stay at home dads.

I just think that daycare isn't really a good thing. Parents should spend more time with their children.

[Zephyr]

I LOVE your arguement Jared, I'm the poster child for your arguement.
Earning the money to be able to support the family is very important,
There's no doubitng that,
But I HATED daycare when I was little.
I rarely got to see my mom, at all.
She worked all week, only got weekends off.
When she was home, she just wanted to be alone due to overworking.
My dad would watch me on his days off since he had a rotating schedule,
Work 4 days, off 4 days.
I honestly don't remember my mom hardly at all in my childhood,
Mostly just my dad and somewhat my sister.
This really strains how close I am to my mom, even to this day.

So, in short: I, for the most part, agree with what you're saying.

Lacking in memories of a parent in the early childhood has it's effects, even at this age,
So it can cause strains in future relationships with a parent.
To this day, I'm closer to my dad then I ever will be to my mom,
My mom just feels like a complete stranger sometimes, even if I do love her.

On the flip side, if you need the money, you need the money... survival is priority #1.
You gotta do what you gotta do.

[theOperaGhost]

On the flip side, if you need the money, you need the money... survival is priority #1.
You gotta do what you gotta do.

Yeah...that of course it true. I was going to cover that in my argument too, but I forgot. lol...

Income is income, yet a very good portion of that income would be going to daycare anyway, because, face it...it's fucking expensive. So, overall...the net gain wouldn't amount to very much, yet if that amount is absolutely necessary, that income would be essential.

Thank you for reminding me, Steph.

[Oblivion]

I hate it when parents put their kids in day care!
They get like NO attention.
I especially hate it when the family is perfectly fine with one parent working, but they still both work, for who knows why.
The kids (from my experience) get so attention deprived, it just makes it hard to be around them because they are always fighting to be in the center of attention
I have multiple cousins like this, and its just unbearable to be with them because they cant stop needing attention from you

But of course, like Steph said, if you need the money survival should come first.

[Kuervo]

wow, really strong debate. you like convinced me, i also feel that daycare wastes dollars which can go for the childs college. and i do think its better for a parent to stay with their child, take care of it and bond with their child than not be in their lives at all. and anyway the parent doesnt know what happens at daycare and what their child is doing, so i also thinks its safer for the child to stay at home with a parent. so yeah, i do agree with you Jared

[raiders rule]

very good argument, very good, agree 100%

[Maverick]

Over the past 30 years the number of women with kids that went to work has increased. I've watched a documentary on the middle class and you may find interesting that 30 years ago a mother with a 16 year old was less likely to have a job than a mother today with a 6 month old.

So things are changing but why? Basically it all goes down to the middle class's standard of living deceasing. Things like health care costs have gone up and in order for the middle class standard of living to be more sustainable, families require two jobs. Most just don't have a choice.

[The Batman]

I went to Headstart which is like a daycare but is more like a school. Whenever my mom wasn't working she volunteered their in fact she got an award for it. She would work in the kitchen and deliver the lunches to my class or she would volunteer in my class. I loved going to Headstart and I always had fun. I think that if parents do send their kids to daycare they should atleast spend a day there with their kids so they can no if it's a good place or not.

[Ryandel]

Day care can be utilized by parents who's lifestyles are just not fitting for thourough daily child care. Yes it's a luxury/service most parents use. But I believe that at the modern age we're in families are drifting more and more. Also the modern age of communication has aided in this problem. If parents can't really fit a child in their lives then why have a child. Also there are other methods than day care. Such ways are to find a relative to watch over for a while. It saves money, also there's a much more trust between you and a relative rather than a day care.

[Camazotz]

Daycare is wonderful. I went when I was little, I met new kids and learned in a healthy environment to socialize with other kids. You learn more "people"skills. Sharing is caring, you dont always get what you want, etc Its also great because parents need to work for income. The economy is falling, and its harder to keep a good income.

[Sapphire]

I am glad that there are people here who have had positive experiences of day care. I think that it is important to recognise the benefits as well as the shortcomings of something like this. There are advantages and disadvantages to things like this. As long as the day care is of a good standard and the parents spend time bonding with their children when they are together then I do not see how it could be branded a terrible thing.

I am rather non-commital when it comes to this topic. I am not for or against putting children into daycare or hiring a nanny. I would prefer to stay at home until my children are around the age of 6 and settled in school. This isn't because I don't see how day care can be beneficial, but more because I would want to be with my children at that young age rather than hiring someone else to be there with them. However, if that isn't possible then I would do it.

[AutumnDae]

My mother has never had a job since she had kids. Wait, yes she did. She cleaned houses for a while, up until I was about a year or two old. Something like that seems perfect. You aren't away from home for long periods of time. She also used to bring my sister's and me sometimes.

Now, even having 5 kids, all either in school or out, she still doesn't have a job. I like having her home. She isn't always there, but most of the time she is at home, cleaning and doing stuff around the house.

If you need to send your kids to daycare for specific reasons, your spouse isn't making much income, you need more to help support, or you are a single parent, that's fine with me. My older sister's friend is a single parent now, with twins. Her son has a rare kidney disease, and he needs to have a lot of help. She needs to go to work, so her health insurance pays for a day care that provides the medical help that he needs.

When I have children I plan on not sending my kids to day care. If they need to have a babysitter a few days, that is fine. Once my kids start school, I may consider getting a job. I want to have something where I leave after they do for school, and get home before. I've always liked having one or both my parents home. I want my spouse or myself home when they get home, at least until they are old enough to stay home alone.

[Gumleaf]

i never went to child care and the reason for that is that my grandparents were my day care centre. i loved it and some of my best ever memories were from the times i spent there. but the thing is, the cost of living has reached the point now where both parents nearly have to work so that the child/ren have a decent life and in some cases just to pay the bills. it wasn't anywhere near that extreme for my parents, but they both still worked and i spent my days at my grandparents. i know thats different to daycare, but its still the same principle, and my point is that some of my best memories are from the times spent with them. i guess they are even more special memories now that they have both died, but even so, i remember some great times there.

[Yasmine]

it seems like parents don't discipline their kids the way they used to. my mom never put me in a daycare.

[CaptainObvious]

Eh... my mother (parents split and I lived with her) and my stepdad were both extremely busy full-time doctors when I was young. I had a nanny, and then went to preschool and have been in school since. I have no problem with having had nannies - I still spent and spend lots of time with my parents, and don't think I've turned out any worse for it.

I am mystified by those of you who think a one-size-fits-all "NO DAYCARE" approach. I see no personal detriment to me from my parents having external childcare support; I have been successful and am probably more independent for it. Maybe I'm atypical - but I cannot condemn anyone's childcare choices without knowing their situation more fully and I don't think you can either.

[Close102]

i think that in crtain cases it is okay. i mean what if you are a single mom with two children and no family. what else can you do except put them in daycare. BUT if they are being put into daycare so that the parents can go golfing and get their nails done and stuff then i dont think it is right.

[theOperaGhost]

Ok, tis true that single parents would need to put their children in day care and have a job, but I don't think married parents need to. The thing I especially hate is when there are like 2 month old babies in day care. I think that one of the parents should be a parent until the child goes to school. It's like parents don't even want to raise their kids anymore.

[Whisper]

Daycare is extremely vital to the child
it gives them social interaction with many other children their age
teaches them to share, work together, get along, etc... before being thrown into school

My sister works at a daycare
she took Early Childhood Education