There are many opinions regarding the right age a child should begin enrolling in daycare. Some say getting them started very young (at less than a year old) is too early, while others say that there’s no “early” time when it comes to children’s development. If you’re a parent of a small child, the pros and cons of daycare and preschool are likely what’s on your mind right now. Realistically speaking, the right age to start going to school is when your child is ready, and you will certainly know once your little one begins developing an interest in activities.
Let’s have a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about early education and the best possible answers to each one.
Daycare FAQs
What’s the ideal age for my child to begin daycare?
According to studies, the ideal time for little children to begin going to daycare is when he or she is at least one year old. However, this applies on a case to case basis. Just because it’s the popular starting point among many parents doesn’t mean you should force your child to attend at this age.
When deciding whether your baby is ready to attend sessions, your primary consideration is his or her behaviour whenever you are away. How does your child react whenever you leave? Does your little one get stressed at the thought of being left behind by a parent? Managing infants’ stress levels is critical. In fact, research shows that some infants develop stress just because their parents enrolled them into daycare too early. Find out how long your child can endure being away from you and how he or she reacts when stressed.
How long will daycare classes take?
Daycares have different approaches to their classes, so one of the big questions to ask would be how long each class would take? Child development studies show that kids under the age of three years tend to be more stressed when they are left at the center for a whole day. Generally, one’s stay at daycare should not take longer than half a day, at least until they get older than three.
How does my child’s natural behaviour factor into this decision?
One key consideration, as mentioned, is your child’s natural stress level. This varies from kid to kid. A child that is typically calm and easy to talk to might adjust more quickly to a school setting. Meanwhile, if your little one gets immediately anxious when you turn your back, then expect separation anxiety to kick in the moment you leave him or her at daycare. If you’re unsure how your child will react, try it out for an hour first and then gradually increase to a couple of hours, then half a day until things settle down.
Why Children Should Go Into Daycare
There are many advantages to enrolling your child in daycare. First, it enables early-age socialization, which is a valuable skill for when he or she gets older. Children learn how to coexist with other kids, cooperate in a team, share, and even solve simple to complex problems. It also allows your child to develop friendships early so that growing up and seeing changes in their bodies become less isolating. When it comes to health, being exposed to other kids also helps strengthen your child’s immunity, thus making them less prone to getting sick in the future.
Finally, enrolling in daycare means more “me time” for the parent. Time spent by children at the center means precious time spent by the mom or dad doing things that make her or him happy, like meeting with other adults, running errands or working on hobbies, or even just having that quiet time that’s hard to come by when one has small kids.
If you’re considering enrolling your little one in daycare but are still undecided, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at 416 602 3811. We are very passionate about helping children and their parents expand their horizons.