Child care centers are buildings in which child care is provided to a large group of children ages 6 weeks to 7 years old (this will vary among different day care centers). The children are divided into groups of children their own age (therefore, preschoolers will be separated/placed in a different room from infants, etc.). Some child care centers are privately owned whereas others are not. Childcare center employees have a high school diploma and for others may have either an associates of arts degree and/or undergraduate degree related to early childhood. All employees are generally certified in First Aid, CPR, etc.
Now that you have a general idea, you may wonder what are the benefits and disadvantages of having a child attend a child care center as their main form of child care. Listed below addresses both:
Benefits
Disadvantages
Now that you have a general idea, you may wonder what are the benefits and disadvantages of having a child attend a child care center as their main form of child care. Listed below addresses both:
Benefits
- Trained personnel
- More children to interact with
- Educational and leisure/recreational activities are provided
- Some provide a preschool education
- Meals and snacks are incorporated into cost
- Field trips are provided (usually there are more during the summer)
- Some provide transportation to and from elementary school (for those that attend elementary school)
- Children are divided up by age
- Even though many children attend, they can still receive individualized and small group instruction
- Location is usually easy to travel to
Disadvantages
- Cost more to send child there (in comparison to in-home childcare)
- More exposure to other children (i.e. children that attend childcare centers may have increase chance of being sick due to increase exposure to other children)
- Some have more restrictions/rules (i.e. specific criteria when you will have to come get your child if they are sick, what the consequence will be if you do not pick your child up on time, etc.)
- Some may have limited operation hours.
- Some you may have to pay a deposit (prior to having your child attend their day care center).
