| For many reasons a great number of parents now | | | | care-someone who feeds and watches over children, |
| rely on someone else to care for their young children | | | | diapers or wipes their noses when necessary, perhaps |
| during the day. Some can count on grand parents or | | | | plays with them some, but basically just keeps them |
| other relatives for the care. A small percentage of | | | | safe and reasonably comfortable until it is time to go |
| families employ their own nanny, baby-sitter, or au pair. | | | | home. In many cases, the quality of care that children |
| Many find a home care provider, someone in the | | | | get is not what is should be. |
| business of looking after a small group or youngsters in | | | | Even in places where the care is adequate, the |
| her own home. Still other parents rely on day car | | | | questions still arise: what are the effects on children |
| centers, which often handle large numbers of children. | | | | who are separated from their parents for much of |
| No matter what the arrangement, many parents fret | | | | their young lives? There are conflicting arguments. Day |
| about how day care would affect their child and if | | | | care proponents say that if the quality of car is good, it |
| what they are doing is a right decision. These are hard | | | | does not really affect children at all. Critics want that |
| questions without simple answers. I believe that any | | | | too much time spent in a day care can cause |
| honest consideration of day care starts with an | | | | psychological, social and behavior problems. |
| undeniable truth: in caring for a child, nobody can take | | | | Widespread use of day care is still a relatively recent |
| the place of a loving parent. No one else can give the | | | | phenomenon and social scientists have not had |
| same devotion and understanding. No one else except | | | | enough time to measure its lasting effects. The best |
| perhaps grandparents- harbors such hopes and | | | | that can be said is not very comforting: no one really |
| dreams. No one else has the patience and | | | | knows for sure. |
| single-minded attentiveness to this particular child | | | | Parents must therefore rely on their own common |
| among all children. | | | | sense. Common sense tells us that, since youngsters |
| Still some form of day care may be necessary in your | | | | are not all alike, and since the quality of day care |
| circumstances. In that case, you want to find a place | | | | varies tremendously from place to place, the effects |
| that comes as close as possible to giving the kind of | | | | are going to differ from child to child. Some children will |
| attention and affection you shower on your child. You | | | | be fine spending a few hours a day from both parents |
| want a place where someone helps satisfy her own | | | | and being well looked after in an excellent day care. |
| curiosity. If a child is an infant, you want a place where | | | | For others, though, the separation may pose |
| someone is always there to pick her up, rock her, talk | | | | developmental risks, risks apt to be deepened in a |
| to her, smile back when she smiles, watch her while | | | | sub-par day care center. Parents know their own |
| she crawls about, and help her feel that the world is | | | | children best, and that makes them the best judges of |
| warm and friendly. If your child is a toddler or older | | | | what is safe and right. |
| preschooler, you want a day care that offers a | | | | Ask yourself some important questions. First of all, is it |
| stimulating environment for her to explore, a place | | | | necessary to put your child in a full-time day care? We |
| where an adult genuinely wants to help her learn. You | | | | believe necessary is the true standard you should use. |
| want someone who patiently asks and answers | | | | Come up with another option if you can. Some parents |
| questions, reads stories aloud, sings songs, plays | | | | set up home offices so that they can be near their |
| games, helps her stack those blocks, and shows | | | | kids at least part of the week. Some moms and dads |
| excitement over her scribbles. | | | | work alternate shifts to ensure one parent is always |
| That kind of high quality substitute care is not easy to | | | | home. Still others find weekend work to help with |
| come by. Much day care is little more than custodial | | | | expenses and allow continual parental care. |