As a parent of an infant, you may have concerns about the quality of care your child will receive while you’re away. It's natural to be cautious about enrolling your child in a childcare program, but it's important to consider the benefits and drawbacks of different types of care available. By the end of this discussion, we hope to alleviate some of the worries parents have regarding infant care services.
Research indicates that whether your child is at home or in the hands of caregivers, the outcome can have the same effect. Additional studies show that 80% of children in Canada, England, and France are put in some type of care that has only resulted in positive development. After all, it’s not about whether you choose to keep your infant at home or in direct care, but rather the quality of your options that matters the most.
In this post, we’ll focus on the best types of care for children ages birth to three and how to ensure superb quality in the care situation. But before proceeding, we want to emphasize that as long as you treat your children gently, tenderly, and respectfully, you’re already following best practices for their development.
Nature provides us with an excellent blueprint to follow when it comes to the best quality care for infants at each stage of life.
Children are born with all the things they need, but it’s up to us to give them an appropriate environment to grow and express their potential.
When it comes to the family unit, a majority of children ages birth to three learn and develop through observation and imitation of those around them. There’s no one standard to follow, so each child can progress at their own pace. Family units provide one-on-one supervision with the infants, which creates a bonding experience with that individual. Rules are also developed gradually in this environment by a trusted person they are linked to. Children will pick up quickly that we don’t throw food around here. Therefore, the family unit is really the best setup for a child’s development and understanding right from wrong.
If a child is being raised in a dysfunctional family or in a household where the attention is not being given, then the result is going to have some challenging outcomes since there is no bond being built in those areas. So, while on the topic of what the best type of quality care is, we believe that it stems from care modeled by their families or those closest to them. It’s either you have two types of care situations for your children or allow them to sit and observe what other people are doing as it is stated that a majority of infants learn through reflection upon others around them in that mixed stage environment.
What exactly is the determining factor between keeping the children home or putting them in direct care? It all comes down to the quality of everything. Seemingly, that quality is always going to be determined by the type of setting that best represents or resembles that family dynamic as a whole.
As each child is provided with that special one-on-one bonding and care, attention will always be focused on their needs as they observe other human beings among many different ages and abilities and adapt those abilities as their own as they grow out of their infant stages without the pressure of having to meet one set standard. This is why we personally recommend young children ages birth to three attend a group family home unit over a preschool setting.
So, why a family group home and not a preschool? Well, the settings are completely on two different ends of the spectrum. A preschool is made up as a little classroom with little chairs, tables, and materials accessible to children all around the same age more or less. Sometimes there are two classrooms, sometimes three, and then collectively all the children will have to go to the bathroom together and eat conjointly
Furthermore, family group home settings offer more flexibility and personalized attention than preschools. In preschools, children are often expected to adhere to a strict schedule and curriculum, whereas in family group homes, the provider can be more flexible in accommodating the needs of each individual child. Additionally, family group homes offer a more home-like environment, with comfortable furnishings, toys, and activities that promote a sense of security and familiarity for young children.
In conclusion, there are many options available for parents when it comes to choosing a care provider for their young children. While some may have concerns about the quality of care provided in child care programs, research has shown that positive outcomes are possible in both home and care settings. Ultimately, the most important factor in determining the quality of care for young children is the attention and care provided by their caregivers. For parents who are considering enrolling their children ages birth to three in a care program, a family group home setting may offer the best combination of personalized attention, flexibility, and home-like environment for their child’s development and well-being.
