Dechia Lee

Education 10

Dr. Huang

December 9, 2015

Daycare Vs. Home Parenting

It is no doubt that many of us will become parents one day, and upon reaching

parenthood, a topic that is often debated to decide whether or not to enroll their child in a

daycare or be a home parent. This decision can be quite troublesome as there are many benefits

and limits to both daycares and home parenting. While some parents rather stay home to care for

their children, a paycheck is too vital a necessity to consider that option. In addition, being a

home parent can be lonely at times. In contrast, day care centers have been been known to have

many workers coming in and out of the center. With a larger staff and institutionalized feel,

children may not have a close bond with their caregivers-something they may take in

relationships as they grow older. There are also more children anywhere from 20 to about 150 or

even more. These children are separated into age groups. These enforcements may cause

children to be more exclusive with their closed groups and not associate with others as much as

they grow older. Whatever decision they so choose, each has its advantages and disadvantages,

and are great in its own unique way.

There are both benefits and limits to having your child in a day care. According to the

article “Daycare Vs. Stay at Home Parent” by Lisa Mooney, the benefits are that “daycares can
provide a wonderful environment for valuable enrichment activities in art, nature, and games.

This can increase social skills, intellect and cognitive skills.” Children who have been in high

quality daycares tend to score higher on measures of cognitive and academic achievement. They

are more likely to have an educationally enriched curriculum which encourages literacy,

language development, social and emotional development. In addition to that, daycares allow

children to become more independent due to them learning many things for themselves early.

Another benefit is that children are exposed to being more structured. They have a set schedule

and school like environment. As they enter adolescence and begin their educational careers in

kindergarten, they take these structures and lessons with them, often being more prepared than

the average child.

Although there are many benefits to daycares, there are also limits to having your child

enrolled in a daycare. Children who are in daycares tend to catch many colds and get sick more

often than usual. One reason for this is the child being exposed to more germs because of the

large staff and number of children. They also get sick due to homesickness that leads to being

tired and frustrated. Another disadvantage is that there are always different people caring for

your children due to people with different shifts and part time workers. Your child is less likely

to form strong bonds with the caregivers. This is often crucial in the early stages of child

development as it will determine relationship approaches for the child in the future. The third

limit to your child being in a daycare is that they may potentially be exposed to a rigid academic

curriculum which may be developmentally inappropriate and could discourage future success for

the child. Lastly and what is considered the most is that daycares are expensive. Having your
child enrolled in a daycare can be costly and some people might not be able to afford it. These

cons may cause the parent to consider the other option: home parenting.

There are also benefits and limits to being a home parent for your child. To begin with,

there is a reassurance that your child is being taken care of - by you! It is important to know that

your child is having a positive childhood experience, and you have the power to do that. Another

benefit is that you will be there to see your child’s “firsts” as she is learning new things and

growing with you. In the article “Babycenter” by Molly Olsen, as a parent, she stated that

“Staying home with Ezra allowed me to really focus on him and be in touch with his emotional

and physical milestones. I’m glad it was me and not a teacher who say him sit up or laugh for the

first time.” She also added that “It’s the most rewarding career you could ever have.” While there

are benefits to the child, there are benefits to you as well. Studies have shown that being at home

without work reduces stress levels within parents. No more long hours, angry customers, and

being exhausted when coming home!

Although there were many benefits to being a home parent, there are also limits that

come with it. One limit is that most parents who stay at home can become very lonely. A stay at

home dad, Jay Massey, opened up stating that “There aren't any other stay at home dads just

around the block.” Another parent, Ann Nicholas, shared “I had a hard time connecting with

other stay at home mom.” Another limit was that parents who stayed at home also felt a loss of

identity. Their self esteem lowered due to not having an appreciation of a boss and colleagues to

talk to. Molly Olsen stated, “I often felt like I was lost, without much identity. I felt like I was

always mommy first, then wife, and then me, if I had any time left. “ The last limit is that the

children who stay at home may not learn the social skills their daycare peers achieve at an early
age. These children also may not mature as fast and may suffer from separation anxiety later

when they have to start school.

My perception is very similar to the articles that I have read. I agree that daycares are a

great place for children to interact with other children. This is a way for them to gain social and

cognitive skills. I also like how children who are in daycares tend to score higher on tests.

However, I also agree with home parenting. I believe that it is very important for children to be

nurtured by their parents. I also think that it is a great idea to be at home to care for your child so

that parents can grow with and strengthen bonds with their child. It is also a very rewarding

feeling to know that as a parent, you were there to see your child’s “firsts”. Although I agree

with both, if I had to choose between the two, I would choose to be a home parent if I can afford

to stay at home. I think that it is important to know that my child is being cared for and

supervised at all times. It is a fear of mine that my child may be exposed to bullying and unfair

treatment. I would want my child to be hurt physically or mentally. Nevertheless, I would still

like to expose my child to other children by visiting family members or friends, and taking them

out to public places. I think that it is important for my child to know how to talk and interact with

others. In doing these actions, my child would also gain crucial cognitive and social skills at

home just as in a daycare.

In conclusion, enrolling their child in a daycare or being a home parent can be a hard

decision for any parent, taking long hours to weigh all the benefits and limits to both. Parents

may go through rigorous research articles finding that most children gain social and cognitive

skills in daycares and tend to score higher in in academic tests. They may also find the limits

within a daycare: children may get sick more often, the cost of enrolling in a daycare, and a lack
of personal growth and influence with their child. In contrast, the benefits to being a home parent

include personal growth and maturity with their child, often forming strong bonds. They also get

to all the child’s “firsts,” often resulting in high levels of parent satisfactory. However, some

limits to being a home parent include parents often becoming lonely as a result of the lack of

people to talk to and stay-home parents nearby. Also, they go through a loss of identity with a

lowered self-esteem due to a lack of being appreciated by others. While this decision is crucial

for the future of both the child and parent, daycares and home-parents, with their own limits, are

both beneficial and special in their own way.

Mooney, L (2013, October 7) Daycare Vs. Stay at Home Parent. Livestrong.com. Retrieved from

http://www.livestrong.com/article/72423-daycare-vs.-stay-home-parent/

Olsen, M (2010, June 10) Staying at Home: Pros and Cons. Babycenter.com.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_staying-at-home-pros-and-cons_6025.bc?page=2

Usmanova, E (2014, March 5) Child Care Center vs. Home-Based Family Child Care: Pros and

Cons. Patch.com.

http://patch.com/virginia/ashburn/child-care-center-vs-homebased-family-child-care-pros--cons_

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