Daycare: Grandma or the Daycare Center?

In modern America, the most common reason for placing child care into the hands of a relative is to cut down costs. Few young, single parents have the income required to pay for formal childcare and a willing parent or grandparent can lessen the financial burden for somebody making six or seven dollars an hour at a retail or office job.

There are, however, many other reasons for doing so. Having a parent take care of your children can alleviate fears about their security. Let's face it. Putting your child's safety in the hands of a stranger can be a bit frightening. Worries about physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of a day care provider can plague a parent. And, so, many parents will opt to have one parent stay home with the children or leave them with a grandparent or sibling.

Another reason may be that it helps to build and secure extended family relationships. There are many families who have little or no knowledge of their aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other family members. Personally, I find this a bit tragic but I can certainly understand why it occurs in some cases. Those who suffered through abuse at the hands of their relatives will often disassociate themselves from their biological family and make their own. Hopefully, without the dysfunction of their predecessors.

One of the disadvantages I can see to the situation is that the child may not develop the social skills that are necessary in the modern world of school or work. As an only child, I encountered this situation myself. The 'wild' behavior of some of my peers terrified me when I entered elementary school and I often found myself seeking out the protection of the braver children. In my opinion, children do need to be exposed to children of a similar age as soon as possible.

To be fair, this can be alleviated by enrolling your child in clubs or classes through a community education center, church, or private parties. And that brings us to the second disadvantage: education. Somebody without formal training in education is less likely to instill the basic building blocks needed to enter kindergarten. Some children are lucky and get to learn about sports, music, reading, and math before they even enter school. Others will find themselves struggling to keep up with their peers.

In the end, it's a deeply personal decision that should include concerns about budget, personal relationships, and more.