Day Care

While reading chapter seven this week I found the topic of day care both interesting and troublesome. Most people in America now days put their children in day care or husbands and wives work opposite shifts so that one parent is always home with the baby. Day care is hard choice on a parent not only financially but also mentally straining. In the world today on top of everything else that a parent has to think about, parents have to wonder if their child is really safe when they leave them with a stranger at day care. Day care is a good option for parents that are both required to work, but the question of what kind of day care plays a huge roll in the decision. The other factor of what day care to choose is based on income and expense. I'm certain that any parent would want their child to go to a center day care that has certifications in child development but lets face it those places are expensive and most middle class families can not afford it. So most families will have their children in day care at a person's house that watches other children ranging in age. This kind of day care can have negative effects on the child. Some of the negative effects are aggression, emotional immaturity, and emotional problems. I can only imagine the stress that is put on parents because of this decision. America unlike other European countries does not receive medical leave for the entire first year of the child's life, but we should. I can only imagine what it is like to have to make this decision as a parent based off of income and not what is best for the child.

Reference:
Berger, K. S. (2011). The Developing Person Though the Life Span. New York: Worth Publishers.