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