Parents Deserve Honest Discussion of Daycare's Effects on Kids
I
believe when people discuss the impact of working mothers on their children, the
discussion is really about daycare’s affects on children. Some
scholars and much of the media seems reluctant to report any findings that
suggest that daycare has a negative impact on children.
Parents
need to hear the truth about the effects of daycare so that they can make
informed decisions about their and their children’s lives. The sheer bulk
of research on daycare makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions, but the
weight of the evidence suggests that children placed in daycare centers for
long periods of time are more likely to exhibit problems, including behavioral
disorders and attachment disorders, than their peers who are raised at
home. Children in higher quality daycare are less likely to suffer any
ill effects, and may enjoy some benefits from increased socialization.
The
research on daycare doesn’t mean that women ought to quit their jobs and return
home to mother their children full-time. There are notable benefits to
having mom in the workforce, such as a higher household income, but those
benefits need to be weighed against the potential downsides of daycare.
Parents
ought to be aware of the existing research as they weigh whether and how much
to work. Awareness of these issues may encourage some mothers to take
different jobs that allow more time at home, even if they provide lower
pay. For other women, awareness of these issues won’t change their
decisions to work, but may make them more vigilant about looking for warning
signs in their children for problem behaviors.
Sign up for the OV Daily Newsletter
OV Social
The author acknowledged that “awareness of these issues won’t change their decisions to work, but may make them more vigilant about looking for warning signs in their children for problem behaviors.” I totally agree with her. The mothers will be better educated on the symptoms of harmful effects of the daycare on their own children and take action quicker. Like the author said the awareness of the cautioning indications may not alter the mother final stand, but will give her an extra edge.
Some studies that show that children in daycare develop health and behavioral problems are skewed and biased. If one only applies these studies to certain daycares of low quality, one does not receive the proper and honest results. There are numerous Daycares that provide healthy, safe and fun environments for their children. These children turn out fine. It is my belief that the problem lies within the daycare system itself, not working mothers. Some daycares are unable to provide the proper care children need. Instead of blaming working mothers we should do more studies and see if improving the daycare system will eliminate some of the problems children of these mothers are said to face.
Any study done is likely to have some bias as Zeus points out. I agree with the idea that what one should look at is the daycare system, not at the working mothers. Even if a working mom desperately needed somewhere for her child to go while she is at work, she would not risk that child's saftey or well being if she had any knowledge of that daycare being inadequate. Ideas expressed in the article say that behavioral issues or attachement issues can become created but these issues can manifest themselves if they are comstantly at home with thier mother too. There are good and bad points to daycare but, like Zeus, I believe it is not the mothers fault.