Students enrolled in ‘The Family’ class had an opportunity to observe daycares in the area. Afterward, they were then asked the question: “Would I send my children there?”
“It was an interesting assignment, however, I wouldn’t put my child in daycare,” Jill Francis, junior psychology major, said.
Erin Michael, senior psychology major, had the same view.
“I think it’s important that children socialize outside of the family,” she said. “However, I’d like to choose the right one for my children to go to. It’s important that they’re in the right facility and atmosphere.”
Four different groups of students went to local daycares where they observed the children and how they interacted. Students then assessed the quality, availability and affordability of each of the daycares.
“I work at a local daycare and we don’t allow children to rule the classroom,” Francis said.
“It’s not a “do what you feel” atmosphere. Some kids know they don’t have to listen, there needs to be better monitoring of the kids that are put in day care.”
While the students were there, they also had the opportunity to interview faculty at each facility. Faculties were asked questions about the age groups of the children enrolled, qualifications and what programs they do for the children.
“Parents who enroll their children in the daycare programs may not have had the insight into what a quality daycare is,” Margutt Hill, first year psychology major, said. “I wouldn’t send my children to the daycare I observed, the toys were bad and it doesn’t seem like a quality daycare.”
However, for some families, it may be tough to take their children out of town to receive daycare.
“Parenting has changed,” Hill said. “How families use to be and how they are now are also completely different. With more women in the workforce, some parents don’t have any other options.”
She isn’t the only one that thinks our routines and money issues may collide.
“Parents lead such busy lives,” Michaels said. “When they have to go to work to support their children and bring in money for food and rent-it could lead to a small budget for daycare.”
And since there are many local options no matter where a person lives, parents may find it useful to look around.
“We also learned that every day care is around the same amount, which I don’t think a lot of people know,” Francis said.