Quote From: crystal528I can give you FIRST HAND advise from someone who is a worker at a daycare. I am a classroom teacher, primarily for the ones and two-year-olds.
Separation anxiety happens with almost all children. It is understandable. But, I can guarantee that by you placing more attention to it, the worse it will get. We have several ones and especially two year olds who cry "Mommy, Daddy" for about 15 minutes after they get dropped off. What we, the teachers do, is called redirecting, getting the child onto another activity, with their friends, while mom and dad slip out quietly. It is common. It is heartbreaking. It CAN BE OVERCOME......
We had a boy who would CRY AND SCREAM Mommy Daddy ALL DAY LONG. That was about 3 weeks ago. Now his parents drop him off, and he is with his friends and happy. You have to learn by kids crying, having a tantrum, WHATEVER, they are doing this for attention.
We, at our learning center, are very loving and caring workers. We do all we can to make the child feel comfortable. It is so hard for the parents. To hear your child screaming is heartbreaking.
(In another comment I saw someone write about biting--THIS IS SOOOO COMMON. Some children bite more than others. We redirect and make them sit for a while. Telling them they have to be nice to their friends, ETC......)
Let me also comment on the fact that make sure you are taking your child to a very good learning center/daycare. Where I work is a learning center/daydare/preschool. We have lesson plans, even for infants, ones, twos. We stimulate the brain ALL DAY LONG. There are STRICT RULES about everything. Ratios, food handeling, positive reinforcement.........Make sure you walk through daycares during regular hours. Notice how the teachers are. Notice the directors of the daycare.
Its like if you put your child to bed. They cry, they scream. Parents give them attention. The child has got what he/she wanted. You have to learn to reinforce what you are teaching and do not give in. Put them back in the bed. Over and over. No talking while you do this. Do not look at them while you do this. They will learn.........This is what happens and the kids basically run over the parents like a steamroller.
Another point I want to make is that I have seen children inside of daycare and ones who have not been to daycare. Daycare/Learning Centers are SOOO beneficial. My two years olds that I have are so far ahead of twos I have seen just sitting at home with mommy. They are serving themselves, eating with utensils and regular cups..From ages 1-5 their brains are like sponges. Get the kids involved in manipulatives, creative play, building blocks, socialization. It is so beneficial for them.
Good luck to everyone contemplating on this and I hope I have shed some light on the topic.
Just want to make it clear that children do not neccessarily need a daycare center to learn and to be socialable and to be independent, what ever. I refuse to put my children in a daycare center becasue I am just as good at teaching/raising my children as any care giver. Child care and preschool teacher has been my career choice for many years (until I had my own) and though most the children there do ok and benefits from it, it is not neccessarily for all children. I am a stay at home mom of two kids, and they are well on their way to succeeding. My oldest is four and in preschool for 7 hours a week and she is ahead of her class in academics (reads, writes, and basic math), never gives the teacher any problems and very social and friendly and doesn't throw fits when I leave her. doesn't have problems being dropped of at the sitters on a accasions, Every thing she knows and has learned is from me and her father, I interact and teach my children every day, they do not spend their time in front of the tv and playing all by them selves. Good parenting will provide their children everything they need and it doesn't have to be day care. My children are smart and does just as good if not better then those in daycare. it all comes down to the time and effort that parents put into their children. For those putting your children in daycare, seek out the best and do your home work, get every detail that you possibly can including back ground checks and credentials of every one there as well as state manditory inspection reports, where I live, reports have to be posted for all to see and read. For those who don't feel that day care is the answer, it is possible to teach and prepare your children for the future, parents are actually the best teacher for their kids so don't feel pressured by society but follow your hearts and know what is best for you and your children. My oldest was coloring at 11 months and writting letters/words by the time she was 2 1/2, she is doing basic math at the age of 4, she has a wonderful imagination and lots of friends, and when it comes to manipulatives, she does 24 piece puzzles and builds castles with blocks using every piece available, my little one isn't far behind. I have no regrets for keeping my children home. Also, those needing child care, a center might not be the answer for your children, some children benefit more from a smaller setting, maybe a sitter who watches just a couple of kids or a nanny coming to your home or a relative. There are ways of socializing your kids and it doesn't neccessarily mean the school system. My oldest is in preschool becasue she wanted to go to be with a certain friend and because I wanted to see how she did in the classroom setting but we are considering homeschooling which is a wonderful option for some families. Also kids in daycare tend to get sick more often and pick up habits from other children, Thankfully my daughter hasn't picked up any bad habits but she certainly has had more colds since she has started.
Just wanted to throw out more options to parents who want the best for their children. I am not trying to discourage daycare from any one, but I just wanted to point out that kids who do not attend daycares can learn and succeed just as well or even better then those who are, it all depends on who is taking care of the children, In the same way that not all parents are going to teach and interact with their children as they should, not all teachers are going to either, believe me, I saw it many times this is why I say, get to know the credentials as well as the individual, a piece of paper means absolutely nothing when it comes to hands on.
