Pulling DC out of daycare to SAH?

I may have the opportunity to become a SAHM. I would love too but I worry that DD (15mos) won't be learning as much as she is right now in daycare. She's been in daycare since she was 7 months old.

I would keep up the curriculum to the best of my ability but there are few tools daycare has that we don't have or have room for in our tiny apartment.

My biggest worry is she won't have a ton of social interaction. She's the youngest in her class right now and she learns a lot from the older kids. I would take her to the parks and enroll in a class or two, but that would be considerably less than the kid-kid interaction she gets now.

For the SAHMs, can you share what you do for social interaction?

For those who have pulled their DC out after a period of time, was it a hard transition?

TIA!

Re: Pulling DC out of daycare to SAH?

Maybe she could still go one or two days a week? At least for a little while during the transition. Then you'd have a day or two to get any errands done and the rest of the time to spend with her.

Re: Pulling DC out of daycare to SAH?

i take my twins out to every functuion i canfind i have them in 3 mommy and me classes and setup and find playgroups.. my boys are going to be 2 next month i have to say they are very socialable and they have no stranger anxiety or seperation anxxiety...

Re: Pulling DC out of daycare to SAH?

For DS, he went to Gymboree for about 2 years, preschool 2x a week at age 3, Pre-K 5x a week at age 4, and Kindergarten this fall. We also do things at the library, and there are some town-sponsored activities for him. He's also been going to karate for 1.5 years. DD will most likely follow a similar schedule.

There is never a "right" answer to how to raise DC. DW and I think that her staying at home, and having them go to occasional classes is in everyone's best interest. They get social interaction, but they also get plenty of time to bond with DW.

Whatever you decide to do, is the right answer for your family.

Re: Pulling DC out of daycare to SAH?

I worked until DD was 20 months and while she didn't attend daycare, she did go to my mom's, MIL's and cousin's (where there were at least a couple of other children) during the week. I was concerned about missing out on social interaction both for her AND for myself, so I enrolled her in a 2 year old program that's 2 hours on Fridays. I also take her to Just Wee Two on Thursdays. She still goes to my cousin's on Wednesday. Last summer, we attended a library mommy and me thing. So, I keep us occupied.

As far as not learning--I truly don't believe that children who don't attend daycare are any less "smart" than those who do. Most of us never attended daycare and I don't think we were stunted in any way. I do things at home like play with playdoh, paint, color, dance, read, etc. etc. etc. Last week we went to a petting zoo--our own little field trip! I think if staying at home is something you truly want to do, you'll find a way to make it work for you and your DD!

Re: Pulling DC out of daycare to SAH?

I agree with the previous poster. Of my circle of friends, not a single one of us attended daycare as a child. A few of us didn't even go to preschool before kindergarten! Yet we all have done well in school, went on to have good careers, all of us are sociable etc.

Kids don't need to be "schooled" from the minute they exit the womb, and they don't need to interact with other kids 8 hours a day. They need love, structure, and fun!

I am a SAHM and there are soooo many opportunities for interaction with other kids during the week. I've done Gymboree two days a week for a long time now. Saf-T-Swim during the summer. Storytime at Borders Books. Orly's Treehouse indoor playground. Just playing outside with neighbor's kids. Now that DS is 2, in the fall we'll be attending a mommy-and-me class at the local Catholic school one morning a week. At home we read lots of books, draw with crayons, paint, play with all his toys, make "music", help me cook, etc. We go on outings, and I try to even make errands fun. And my parents stop by twice a week for a few hours to spend time with him. I honestly think at this stage of my life with DS, I've created a fun and enriching enough world for him that he'd actually LOSE by attending daycare right now.

Sorry for the long post, but I really have never understood the rush for daycare and/or formal "education" from infancy. There is so much your child can learn from YOU if you are willing to make it happen!

Re: Pulling DC out of daycare to SAH?

In my opinion, daycare for a baby should be all about hugs and nurturing...A curriculum does not seem necessary at this age. My son started daycare at 6 mo.a and while I think it is fine, I think your baby will learn just as much, if no more just from being with you. Take a few classes if it makes you happy.

Message edited 4/1/2008 11:17:04 AM.