"A Downside to Day Care?" is an article published in Newsweek that examines research conducted about the result on young children being in early child care programs. The results are interesting. This research seems to confirm that too much learning and structure at too young of an age can actually be detrimental to a child's behavior. As my cousin Juli pointed out, it makes me steer clear of Montessori programs for sure.
What I like best about this article is the insight & research interpretation provided by Margaret Burchinal, a psychologist at the University of North Carolina and a co-author of the study. Burchinal says: "The take-home message (of the research) is parents of young children need to figure out what makes their lives work so they can be the kind of parent they really want to be with their children...Parenting matters far more than any single decision about child care--or all the decisions put together. Quality parenting predicts school success."
My take? So if you're a parent who works outside of the home, focus on the time you have with your kid(s). Make that time count. If you're able to stay home with your child/children, be sure that you're happy with that decision and find it rewarding. No matter which way you work (at home with the kids or in an office), a parent needs to find fulfillment. The impact is not only on you but also on your youngsters. Let me know what you think by adding a comment to this blog.
Until the next nap time...
