What is voluntary childcare, statutory childcare and private forms of childcare?

Early learning at Childcare for toddler?

• a mother who got a dilemma to put her first son in Childcare for early learning (start childcare as early as 18 months) but her son seems to fall sick very often. Should she withdraw her son and wait till he is about 3 year+ then join back the childcare ??? Some friends said it is ok to let my son at childcare since it will help him improve his immune system (but i feel bad; every time my son felt sick then have to feed him with antibiotic, sometime need to check blood , etc) another group of friends said it is not advisable to start childcare less than 3 yrs especially i have mother in laws who stay next blok to take care of my son (it is true if my son at home; most of the time he will be in a good health, seldom cry (if goes to childcare; everytime we leave him at childcare he will cry), BUT at home, he cant learn much and no socialize with other kid. he just play by himself (no friend/relative/neighbor at his age) which is one of the reason i put him at childcare so he can play with his peer. Appreciate if any mother willing to share your view/perspective (maybe to those experience mother who has grown kids or maybe has same dilemma with me) . Thanks

• Answer:

  I see your point of view wanting to socialize your child...but at 18 months it is not yet necessary. I am against sending kids to childcare for a few reasons. #1. It is a proven fact that kid don't learn faster or better at childcare or under structured learning. Free play is the best they will ever have to let them learn. it teaches them to use their own skills, to be curious, to follow their noses. they will learn much more being free. The #2 reason I hate childcare is that it takes a kid away from it's parent and it's home. kids are only young once, and they grow up fast. First off, they have their WHOLE lives to be forced to work, to be away from home, to be forced to follow direction and to always have someplace to BE. NOW ...when they are young.....is when they have time to just BE KIDS. to love and laugh and be with mom and dad and be free to be themselves. Your kid will not have an advantage over any other kid by going to childcare at this age, at least not cognitively. (the mind). As far as social skills go, he may be behind at first but kids catch up fast, and he won't be the only one. try arranging play dates for him or visiting an EARLY YEARS CENTRE where parents can go WITH their kids for a few hours a week to socialize them. as far as your part in this, I believe kids need to feel like they have a primary care giver who really WANTS to be with them. if the caregiver is always sending them away I do believe it teaches kids that mom and dad's #1 concern is their own needs, and whatever time is left over is for their kid. The kids grow up to put #1 first (which means themselves) over anyone else and kids now a days are losing the idea of what respect for one another is, of what it is to put someone else first - It's becoming a ME ME ME world and it starts with people NOT parenting their own kids. I get it if there is a reason, like need for money, but all too often it's just parents who want an extra car or a big screen TV, or simply can't bear the thoughts of staying home with their own kid rather than fulfilling their own needs. Someone once said that staying home and being miserable is no good for your kids. I agree, but what nobody took into account is that we all have to PICK a career. and parenting is a full time job, too. instead of creating a kid that need 100% attention all the time and passing it off, the people who didn't really want to spend 3 or 4 years with their kids as a stay at home parent might have considered NOT having them in the first place. that would also solve the problem of kids being at home with unhappy parents. You can't be hired by an employer and decide to get someone else to work that job FOR you while you do another job! we all have to choose. and while I agree we shouldn't be miserable around our kids, I think people misinterpreted that to mean, Go Out! have fun! put yourself first! which I firmly believe it didn't. I think it means make a choice, either be a parent or be a worker. FACT: someone needs to care for tiny kids. It is a full time job. and mom or dad should be the ones stepping up to the plate for at least 3 years. if they can't give up three years for their kids then they clearly have a preference for work and the kid is going to realize that one day. Plus that kid will constantly be cared for by OTHER people. mom and dad will be part time. why would anyone do that unless they absolutely HAD to? create a job and then pass it off. your child is your employer the moment he or she is born. you created a job that needs workers, and too many people decide they aren't interested in being the primary worker at that job. sad, really. like I say if they need the money that's one thing, but other than that it's ruining our society from the inside out. things now-a-days suck more than ever in history and look at the big difference: woman started working but decided to keep having a family too. they wanted thier rights, they wanted their cake and eat it too. I want to work but I want a family, so I'll pop out the kids and then go off to work and have a career. why not? well, over the years since this movement of the working parent started north American society is losing everything that once made it great. because the world is not about people working with people anymore. it's all about what the INDIVIDUAL wants. No more community. no more respect. no more concept of the good things in life. consideration for others is out the window. So yeah if you want to know my opinion look after the kid for at least another year and half until he's three. show him you love him and are there for him above all else, and you will be rewarded for it through him. Plus what parent would want their kid always getting sick and just keep sending him??? it's your kid! his health comes before some advantage you seem to want him to have.