As a parent, you obviously want only the best for your little ones. That includes everything from taking proper care of yourself during pregnancy to tending to their every need while growing up all the way to ensuring they have plenty of opportunities in life to be happy and accomplished. With that in mind, you also want to provide them with a quality education. Some Australian parents believe that there is no need to send kids to daycare at a young age if they have babysitters available or they plan on being stay-at-home parents. However, there are plenty of benefits to having your little one enrolled in a quality daycare. If you’re on the fence and wondering whether opting for daycare is the best option, keep on reading for seven advantages that this move can provide young children with.
Children will have a routine
No matter if parents are around and available all day long or if there is a babysitter that is taking care of the child, how the child’s day is structured can often vary on a daily basis. For example, if parents have errands to run around town, they might take their little ones with them. On slow days, they might spend the entire day inside. Furthermore, even when a babysitter is in charge, the day can often lack structure as they will let the child play, eat and sleep at different times unless a schedule is established.
On the other hand, having a child go to daycare will provide them with a routine. While kids might not be aware of time, quality institutions provide them with a wide array of activities. From reading, talking and singing to playing outside and being creative, the day is structured with the children’s intellectual growth and development in mind. Moreover, simply by waking up at the same times every day as they have to go to daycare as well as having lunch and getting home at the same time, kids are developing a routine that will help them be on time and better organized later on in life. Finally, having a structured day means that kids will be less erratic at the end of the day.
They will gain autonomy and independence
Constantly being with their parents, grandparents and other adults that are in charge of taking care of them can limit a child’s autonomy and independence. Of course, that doesn’t always have to be the case, especially if those tending to the child have some experience and knowledge on how to approach developing a child's independence.
However, opting for daycare services is a great way to set a child up for being confident and capable as an adult. Programs in these institutions are structured in such a way that they provide kids with countless chances to strengthen their skills, thus helping them become more independent and autonomous. From interacting with other kids and adults to learning how to ask for what they need, they will find themselves in various situations that will help them become better at adapting to different circumstances.
What is more, parents will also benefit from their kids gaining some autonomy. For example, while they are away at daycare, parents can take some time for themselves and ensure their wellbeing is also supported. Moreover, as kids get older, they will not rely on their parents for their every need and will learn how to be independent adults.
Daycare provides kids with a chance to spend time with their peers
Staying at home with an adult babysitter or parents all day long means that children don’t get to spend plenty of time with their peers, especially if they’re only children. Of course, there could be some neighbors or family friends that could come over and spend quality time together but this is usually not something that happens on a daily basis. When parents are busy or have no friends that have kids, setting up play dates can be very difficult and it’s the kids who end up paying for it.
On the contrary, by enrolling their child in daycare, parents are providing their little ones with guaranteed quality time with their peers. Daycare institutions in Australia place kids in a safe and supervised environment where they are encouraged to grow, learn and discover the world around them while also working on their social skills that will be vital for their adult life. These structured activities teach kids how to play nice with others, share toys and other supplies, problem-solve in a team and much more. As teachers are highly qualified, they will facilitate prosocial behavior that will foster emotional intelligence and altruistic traits.
They will also interact with adults
In addition to developing their social skills by spending time with kids their age, children should also interact with other adults. By being taken care of only by the people closest to them or babysitters, children are often not given enough opportunities to experience the world outside of their little bubble.
With that in mind, being under the care of specialized and educated professionals will also be good for a child’s social skills. These experts are there to guide kids through their day but also to provide encouragement, teach them to develop certain skills and discourage negative interactions. Quality educators know how to prevent incidents and bullying and will work with kids to resolve all potential issues. Furthermore, besides parents, teachers are the authority figures that kids need to learn to respect. By learning from a young age how to be respectful towards elders and those in charge, kids will have a much easier time adjusting to the school and work environment.
It’s beneficial for later education
Although kids can learn a lot by reading and doing various other activities around the house, people that didn’t specialize in early childhood education are simply not aware of everything that a young child needs in other to develop. With that in mind,it’s easy to see how looking for quality childcare centres in Australia is the best move for families living Down Under.
Various studies show that children that spent time in a high-quality daycare when they were younger had better academic achievements and higher cognitive skills. Moreover, going to a childcare center from a young age prepares kids better for the transition that awaits them when they start kindergarten, primary school and even university, as it exposes them to a set structure and guidelines in terms of learning. However, it’s important to remember that not all centers incorporate education into their program. There are also those that provide kids with care and entertainment without a structured curriculum that will prepare them for further education. Additionally, research shows that kids attending formal childcare programs have higher reading and math skills than those in informal or home-based childcare settings.
Going to daycare can build their immune system
It’s not uncommon for parents to think that daycare centers are breeding grounds for germs when kids are constantly sharing the same toys and spending time together even when sick sometimes. However, there are also good sides to being surrounded by their peers for several hours a day. Exposing kids to germs and diseases can toughen up their immune systems. So, if one of their classmates has a runny nose, it’s not the end of the world as it can actually help them fight off diseases easier in the future. Going through something when they’re still young can aid in becoming a healthy adult.
On the other hand, always keeping kids indoors, supposedly safe, can actually have the opposite effect. By staying in a bubble, kids will be more susceptible to disease later on. Furthermore, always being inside is also not good because the kids are not getting enough vitamin D. As it is vital for both immunity and other things like quality sleep, children should get plenty of time in the sun so it’s important to find a center that also allows them to play outdoors.
There are also benefits the parents
Finally, while there are many great benefits that kids attending daycare will experience, the parents are also at an advantage if they choose to enroll their little ones in such a center. In addition to the above-mentioned extra time while the kids are away, parents can rest assured that their child is getting the best possible education and is being properly prepared for all the academic challenges that lie ahead. Plus, many quality daycares in Australia also allow parents to have an input into what the kids are being taught, which is another reassurance that the children are properly taken care of.
Moreover, parents often meet other parents whose kids are going to the same center. These interactions with other parents when dropping off and picking up kids come with immense long-term benefits such as lower levels of depression.
If you're not sure whether sending your child to daycare is the best idea, you can rest assured that there are many amazing benefits to such a decision, from encouraging your little one’s independence to providing them with all the tools for future success. Look through the local offer and pick the centre that suits you most.
