Why Daycares are Important for Child Development

Daycares have been around for quite some time. You probably went to one as a child or know someone who did. Initially, daycares were seen as a service for working parents. They needed a safe place to drop off their kids so they could work. Under professional caregivers in a healthy environment fit the bill.

This meant that stay-at-home parents often did not feel the need to send their kiddos to daycares. However, nowadays, even non-working parents are considering daycares for their young ones. Not because they can't watch them but for early education.

Here are a few benefits of daycares and how they can help child development.

Daycares Are Now Early Learning Centres

Daycares are not just a service to take care of your kids while you are busy. Yes, they do that as well, but now it's so much more. They play a huge role in providing early education — something kids might not get in their regular home environment.

Most daycares are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and professionally trained caregivers who expose kids to various activities — all day long. It's often a full day of learning with sand and water play, paints and crayons, role-playing, storytelling, book reading, and more. These activities play a huge role in a child's physical and mental capabilities, especially speech, behavior, sensory, and motor skills.

Most parents cannot provide that kind of environment at home even if they do not work. Yes, they may do some coloring here and there but conducting continuous activities is very hard for one person to do.

Social and Emotional Development

Besides physical and mental development — social and emotional development is an integral part of a child's personality. Many home-bound kids, especially those who do not have siblings, are often shy or reserved and do not bond well with other kids.

They also show a lack of confidence when communicating with others and often grow up as introverts and somewhat insecure. I should know — I am an only child and am very much an introvert.

Daycares allow children to interact with other kids their age and learn to acknowledge their existence through group activities. This helps improve a child’s communication skills and facilitates confidence-building and early interpersonal skills.

Also, daycares can determine if your child has difficulty communicating or has a speech disorder. If so, let them receive speech therapy for toddlers, which will help improve their communication disorder.

Transition to School

Going to daycare means your child will not be sleeping at random hours or spending the morning watching cartoons on the tablet. Daycares enforce a routine and train children to follow instructions and protocols given.

Children learn to accept and understand that spending certain hours of the day away from their parents is a regular part of their life.

This acts as an excellent way to prepare children for school later on — by the time that comes, they will be a pro.

Independence

Above everything else, daycares teach your kids to become less dependent on you. They learn to express their feelings and emotions and communicate their needs without throwing tantrums.

They learn to take on responsibilities such as cleaning up after playing, and washing their hands before meals— giving them a sense of independence early on.

Do you send your kids to daycare?