Enough, already with Poor Behavior and Daycare
You may wonder why I haven’t commented on what would seem to be the ultimate working parent topic: daycare causes delinquent children, or, whatever the twist of the day is.
I’ve thought about it, but, I just can’t do it. Well, actually, I’m doing it, now, aren’t I? But, you know what I mean.
There is so much manufactured hysteria, particularly toward/for mothers who work outside the home. Of course, childcare is one of the most important issues we face, that’s no secret.
However, I’m just not sure that anything good, or, new can come from these “debates” initiated by some sensationalistic news piece. No one is going to change anyone else’s mind on this one.
I work very hard to address this blog to working parents, not just mothers, and, the popular notions of guilt, and, who works where are just plain tedious, sometimes.
If you’re here, it’s likely, but certainly not necessary, that you are a working parent. For most of us, our situation is what it is, and, I hope to foster conversations about how we can make our work-life fit better, including daycare options, and, hopefully ignore the sweeping generalizations regarding the issues that affect us.
Your thoughts?
Yes, you. You there, the one behind your RSS reader, come on over this one time. I don’t bite. I’ll give you candy.
Tags: Career and Kids, Child-Care, The-Juggle, Wall-Street-JournalRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Childcare
15 opinions for Enough, already with Poor Behavior and Daycare
Heather
Mar 28, 2007 at 6:07 am
I’m one of the RSS feeder readers you called out. I agree with you and am tired of the generalizations as well. There is little discussion about quality vs. non-quality childcare, which I have found has an impact on a child’s development as well as a parent’s peace of mind. Childcare (even by a father) gets lumped together into “non maternal childcare”, which really defeats the purpose of a decent discussion.
RB
Mar 28, 2007 at 7:02 am
I posted on it here
The reports on the study seem a little skewed to me.
Inside Fatherhood » More on Day Care and Poor Behavior
Mar 28, 2007 at 7:07 am
[…] but I am sure it will be debated again and again. Does Day Care really cause bad behavior in kids? Some people think it is only a bunch of hype. We also have to remember the current study that was done, proves it to […]
Valerie
Mar 28, 2007 at 7:13 am
This issue really gets my goat. I was a kid-in-daycare myself; I know my mother got plenty of comments that my siblings and I were more mature, more responsible, more able to “deal” with other adults than other kids were. But that’s just an anecdote.
I think the key here is, as Heather notes, quality vs. non-quality. Another anecdote. We have have friends with a 3-year-old a few months older than our 3-year-old. Mine has been in good quality daycare since she was six weeks old. Our friend’s child has been at home with a parent who is, quite frankly, a little more interested in his computer games than in providing care and attention. My daughter is much more advanced verbally, socially, and along other milestones. I strongly believe this because she gets more care and attention during the day. Care and attention are what matters, not whether there is a parental relationship.
Hrumph!
Jill
Mar 28, 2007 at 7:57 am
I wrote a post on this study as well… And as I said, my biggest issues isn’t with the study itself, but rather with the way it was covered in the media. It’s just maddening…
http://coocooblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/extra-extra-read-all-about-it.html
Brian (dad to 3)
Mar 28, 2007 at 9:44 am
If I had a choice, I’d stay home. But I can’t, so there’s not much point in worrying about it. (besides, I turned out OK, I think). Going back to Google reader now.
Slartibartfast
Mar 28, 2007 at 10:12 am
Here’s a little parental secret (that you already know):
About 70% of the way “kids turn out” is due to nothing other than the dispositions and smarts that God gave them. We parents would like to say we “made” our children the way they are, but this isn’t the case, for the most part. There are too many wonderful adults who had horrible childhoods for this not to be true.
Don’t EVER let a parental guilt trip get to you.
flybunny
Mar 28, 2007 at 10:26 am
I have avoided reading this article so far and think I will continue. Both of the girls stayed home with their Dad their for their first years but this one will have to go to daycare at 3 months unless we win the lottery or schools starting paying their teachers 200% more.
I hate that the media continues to increase the divide among women and the choices that they make. It is beyond maddening, I find it infuriating.
Selfmademom
Mar 28, 2007 at 11:54 am
Well, you know I agree! This is not front page news. At least not front page news that I care to read.
Daycare Dilemma? Not! at Triple Venti
Mar 28, 2007 at 12:19 pm
[…] over without much ballyhoo. Then I started reading some articles like at Career and Kids, where the frustration of yet another study on the subject shows. And I guess I can understand that since the way these articles tend to slant things, it always […]
CLG
Mar 28, 2007 at 12:48 pm
I posted about it here.
How can they get away with the “disruptive behavior” headlines when the the behavior is all “within normal limits?”
Larisa
Mar 28, 2007 at 1:23 pm
It all boils down to the balance of things. I’ve always worked, tried to spend the most time with my kids that I could, etc. I think my kids turned out pretty good (so far).
I also had friends who stayed home and hated it and it showed in their kids.
You have to do whats best for your own family.
carolyn
Mar 28, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Both of mine went to child care while I worked. That’s the way it had to be. Luckily, I had them in a good church day care and they thrived. Now, they are both in middle school, make decent grades, are active in sports and music and have friends. They dont clean their rooms as well or as often as I want, the 14 year old has a sassy mouth and they watch too much TV. Would they be any different if they had stayed home with me? I don;t have a clue.
Karen
Mar 29, 2007 at 11:04 am
All I can say is I Totally Agree.
Career and Kids » More on the daycare study
Mar 31, 2007 at 9:36 am
[…] Are Alright -What the daycare study really found” is a balanced, and, careful analysis of the study heard round the world this week about daycare being correlated to bad behavior in […]
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