Do you remember the days when offices were all about delivering work on time and catching little breaks to chat with friends? When parks were filled with toddlers and strange people smiled at each other while walking down the road? Those were the good old days. Agree? But ever since 2019’s virus has entered our lives, everything has changed. People have become more cautious and have started maintaining distance from family and friends.
However, now that we are getting back to our normal lifestyle, life is gradually returning to its old pace. Amid such times, many parents are wondering whether or not they should send their children to daycare.
If that's a question that has ever boggled you, these are some experts you can hear out.
BBC Creative/Unsplash | With life returning to the old normal, parents are worried whether or not to send their children back to daycare
How are children reacting to daycares nowadays?
With the pandemic wreaking havoc, every institution has taken necessary precautions to keep students and staff safe. Daycare centers aren’t far behind. They've made masks compulsory for all their staff, removed indoor drop-offs from their routine, started conducting temperature checks on everyone, and decreased the number of kids in every class. On top of that, they have also allotted different play stations and sensory bins to each child and taken their singing sessions outdoors.
With so many changes, you might think that the way they treated children would also vary now. But as per Heidi Briggs, owner of Evergreen Childcare Centre in British Columbia, the essence of daycares remains the same. Briggs, who recently invested in an app for parents to contact their children's teacher directly, said that most kids who are returning to the center are taking some time (around two to three weeks) to adapt to the environment. She noted that since these babies have never been around other children of their age, they’re taking some time to admire them.
Segun Osunyomi/Unsplash | Most kids who return to daycare take some time to get used to other children, hence, parents should try and make the return as relaxed for them as possible
The young entrepreneur mentioned that parents’ concerns often reflect on their children. She explained that if parents are nervous, their children also worry about coming to the center, but if they're relaxed, children don't hesitate and get along with others at the center in no time.
Are children safe in daycare centers?
A pediatric infectious disease specialist at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, and mom of a two-year-old, Dr. Jacqueline Wong, said that parents shouldn’t worry excessively about their unvaccinated children getting infected. The doctor described that infections in children are very mild, and since most Early Childhood Educators (ECE) are vaccinated, there's a slim chance of children contracting the virus.
Vitolda Klein/Unsplash | Experts suggest socializing helps children immensely, so parents should stop considering daycare as a worry and start thinking of it as a choice
Speaking about the benefits of sending her son to the daycare center, Wong said she saw enormous social and communicational development in her baby. She suggests parents stop thinking of daycare centers as a huge decision and start considering it as a choice they are making for the child's benefit.
So then, are you planning to send your child to a daycare soon?
