Whats Better, Staying at Home with Mommy or Daycare?

T.,
Today's world says to go to send him to daycare. I say, stay home with him if you can! I was a stay at home mom for the first 8 years of my kids lives. They were very happy that they could come home to mom after school. I decided to go to work when I felt like I could. Well, thats when they changed. They did not go to daycare, they had babysitters that lived in the same apartment complex as we did. They had great babysitters! Things changed because all of a sudden I was to busy to spend the quality time with them like the first 8 years of their lives. Do you want your child to have your morals and values or do you want your child to have their morals and values. My daughter is now a stay at home mom. My granddaughter Briauna is in 1st grade and the first two years of Briauna's life I took care of her and worked with her on the computer. She knew how to control the mouse to the computer at the age of 1 yr old. She was talking very clear at that age because we never spoke baby talk to her and her grandpa used to read her the business section of the newspaper from the time of her birth. I would always let her scribble on paper with crayons, she would make necklaces and bracelets. Mind you she is again around a year old to two when I would always be having her do something with hers hands. She is a very good little artist. She colors like a teenager. She is like I said in the first grade, never went to daycare and is at a 3rd grade reading level and is top in her class for math! All the other kids and I say all the other kids went to daycare, preschool and I think only one other child in the class is comparable to Briauna. This is not me saying all this, this is the teacher's report on Briauna. It is the time that you spend with your child that will make all the difference in the world in their lives. She is very socialable even though she did not go to daycare. She has lots of friends and is alot of fun to be around! I honestly say that what is wrong with this world is that there is not enough parents, moms or dads staying home to give the kids a safe sense of security. I believe they need to be around their parents to have a well balanced life when they leave for their first day of kindergarten. My mom was also a stay at home mom for a while and when she left our home to go to work it was devasting for me. We then had to clean house and make our own snacks because our babysitter made us. We had to grow up. Take all the time you can with your child at home and you can teach him all he needs to know socially and educate him at home. Find other stay at home moms and make playdates, honestly it is the best thing for children to have at least one stay at home parent.
sincerely,
L. Jacobs

I had concerns like that with my first son. I stayed home with him and he happened to be very behind in speaking, which was a huge concern of mine. When he was 2.5 yrs, I put him in a daycare/preschool half days and he thrived there. His speaking improved dramatically and he loved being around other kids. He is 4 yrs old and still at the same school. I have a second son, who is 21 months old, and I am going to put him in school when he is 2.5 yrs as well. I take him to a lot of playgroups so he gets some socialization there-do you belong to any kind of mom's group where your son can be around other kids consistently? You could try finding a school/daycare that has part-time hours (I had trouble finding one in the beginning and most places are not cheap either) but honestly, he is still so young so if you could find a playgroup that would be my best recommendation. Good luck!

Hi T.,

I sense that you are a remarkable and caring mom. Which means no matter what you will make a good decision. I stayed home with my first child when he was first born and I too felt the same way. I had to leave my son for 2 months due to hospitalization and he freaked out which is why I had no choice. What I did was take him to mommy and me play dates constantly to get him in tune with how to deal and interact with other kids and people other than just me. When he got a little older, around 16 months I would take him to daycare center for about 3 hours a day to give me time to pamper myself and clean up at home and to give him time to adjust with out me being around. He did better than I did. Soon he did not want to leave. He is 8 years old now and he has so many friends, he is in honor classes and he loves to play games. Most importantly he loves me. I work part time during my kids school hours. They come home to me after school. I enjoy it.

So, to answer your question I think a mixture between staying home with you and going to daycare will make your child more well rounded. I feel that a healthy balance is wise. He will know how to adjust in many situations including the world of mathematics.

Children in centers seem detached b/c they generally do not get a lot of personalized one on one time or even the group is just too big. At that point they are just getting their physical needs met but not emotional or social needs.You should check out home daycares they generally have lower ratios and the kids have more time devoted to them than in centers. While I am a home daycare provider I am not just saying that really you should check it out. Good Luck!

T. you are doing it all...don't you worry about a thing!
I'm a SAHM and love it too, although i do attend playgroups, go to the mall play areas, parks, and do little arts and crafts even...but most of all i am a member of the (Parents as Teachers) Program and Love it too!
these are a few things that they Offer Below:

Centers of Academic and Literary Excellence
1502 E 9th Ave
Tampa, FL 33605

Contact: Natalie Epo
Phone: ###-###-####
E-mail: ____@____.com

Kin as Teachers
4202 East Fowler Avenue, MGY 132
Tampa, FL 33620

Contact: Danielle Klendworth
Phone: ###-###-####
E-mail: ____@____.com

Parents as Teachers
3108 West Azeele Street
Tampa, FL 33609

Contact: Georgina Rivera (SHE IS AWESOME)
Phone: ###-###-####
E-mail: ____@____.com

they offer great resources and can be the best part of life.
we always have get togethers / gatherings / parties...

they come out to your home and play, talk, and direct your child into the right path.
they do whaqt is called ASQ's to see waht level your child is on and anything he is not catching at his age that he should be they will see it and help him more.
also there is a Early Intervention Program provided for speech delayed children and maybe you can get help there.
But in all honesty i think you are Over reacting as far as he is not the smartest or maybe behind socially because we all have children and they are all different and come into different situations differently too.
my daughter may be the same age but you have to look at it as she is a girl vs. he is a boy and we all know that girls mature faster than boys, and she may have a mother (ME) that works with her daily on the things i'd like for her to learn, i may take her to more social gatherings vs. you stay home more..you ahve to be a little easier on yourself!
IT IS JUST MOTHERHOOD
no instructions on what you have to do....
no one says your doing it wrong, your doing it your way!
and i think that is the best part about it...you get the chance to make that differnce in your child and know that he'll be a great MAN one day!
your gonna be Proud and should be now too!
take care and i hope this helps you.