Is Daycare a good Idea?

There is no such thing as one strategy that works for every situation. Daycare, for example, has its different pros and cons for every family. Some families like daycare because the services it provides helps their family a lot. Other families prefer someone they know well (like a relative) to look after their children. We tried daycare and it worked well for us. I also believed that, we were just lucky to have lived in a place with a good daycare service provider nearby. 

Usual concerns that comes to mind with daycare are, 

• what kind of food will the kids eat there?
• are the kids really being taken care of?
• what if my child cries all day?
• does my child really wanted to be left here?
• are the other kids nice to him/her?

...and so on. But for parents who are both working, daycare is the next best place to leave young children, especially if there is no any available family member (or any other trusted person) who can look after your child/ren while you work. 

We live in Malaga, an always-sunny city in Spain. I am a stay-at-home mom but my daughter still went to a GUARDERIA (spanish for daycare). She started when she was almost TWO years old, during the last 2 months of the "school year", TO TRY.

We enrolled her again when she turned two, and it became her first school-like experience. At age 3, she attended real school and I can say that we were satisfied with our guarderia experience in CUCO (previously Chiquitin).

In case you are in Malaga and is also interested in the same Guarderia, here's their website:
http://www.cucocentroinfantil.com/

Everyday, from 9:00H until maybe before 12:00H, they would have lessons in form of play or activities. There are also english classes in the morning and there is one day of each week that is allocated for play time in their Parque de Bola area (balls park) until before 11:00H.

Among the lessons they had if I remember correctly, were hygiene by practicing on a doll, storytelling, relays, arts, pretend salon, and so on. They also celebrated autumn, spring, halloween, christmas, and other festivities with a small class party. 

They would eat lunch at 12:00H. Their meals were freshly made everyday in the guarderia's kitchen, prepared by their in-house cook (menu provided to us). Siesta or quiet time comes next, starting at 14:00H and then merienda (afternoon snacks) follows at 16:00H. I believe that they have dinner option as well for those who needed the service for a longer time (they close at 21:00H). But I pick up my daughter between 14:00H and 17:00H.

They also initiate POTTY TRAININGS at age 2, where they focus on 2 kids every 2 weeks. We waited for my daughter's turn for potty training in the guarderia before we seriously began at home. So during the time my daughter was being potty-trained, both school and home potty-time rules were implemented at the same time. For us, this was really helpful. 

But of course, we also had unhappy moments, like when my daughter went home with a scratch, or that day when i saw she had a bite on her arm. This happened three times during the first two months (the adjustment period), when kids aren't friends yet with one another. The reason for fighting is always linked to sharing problems... 😓

Anyway, since my daughter would always have a "fight" moment in the guarderia, the teacher is always on the lookout. In videos and in photos, I noticed that she is always beside the teacher. The thing is, while most kids just walk away when another kid is being naughty, my daughter doesn't and she fights back. 😅

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Here's a summary of daycare benefits (based on our experience):

1. COMMUNICATION (in Spanish). We are from the Philippines. We do not speak Spanish yet when we arrived here in Spain. No one can teach our daughter the language better than having daily exposure to the language, which daycare or school can provide.
   
   
2. SOCIALIZATION. Since we are expats in Spain, our daughter does not have cousins or so much friends to play with. She has about 2 or 3 friends only because they are the only same-age kids we know whose parents can speak english. But in daycare, she gets to socialize with a lot of kids, learn with them, play with them, or even fight with them.
   
   
3. SANITY for me. Her daycare hours gave me a lot of alone-time. I was able to do my home chores without interruptions. I was able to shop or do groceries easier because I am by myself with enough time to get everything done.
   
   
4. BETTER mom-daughter RELATIONSHIP. I am not sure if I am imagining things but, my daughter started her Terrible Two Stage before 2 years old. Going to the guarderia made her nicer to me. It is as if the guarderia taught her that mom won't always be here forever. She misses me based on her tight hugs and every afternoon pick-up time she is always excited to see me. 😆
   
   
5. EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY. Daycare provides an educational and productive time spent away from home. Like for example, my daughter would probably just watch cartoons at home when I am REALLY REALLY busy or it could be the same thing that the nanny or helper would do if I have one. In the guarderia, she does a lot of play and arts. Also, she does everything with a group which provides another kind of learning. With daycare, I can be busy without worries.
   
   
6. BETTER EATING HABIT. My daughter eats anything before the Terrible Two Stage (which came earlier) but suddenly, she stopped eating just anything. But in the guarderia, she eats better, since other kids are eating and since she is also quite competitive (what they eat are reported by their teacher everyday in their journal). Daycare meals also gave her a taste of Spanish meal since we are Filipinos and we have Filipino meals at home 😅

Overall experience is good and I recommend daycare services (based on our good experience). But of course, always check first what works for your family 🙂

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