Do You Accept Children "for Socialization" Reasons? Pros/Cons?

[JenNJ]

I think socialization is NEEDED now because most kids ARE in daycare.

When I was young, all my friends lived on my street. We all played together from 7am to 8pm, only stopping to eat. When we fought, we figured it out. Our parents weren't with us. They watched from the kitchen windows to make sure we weren't straying too far from home. There were no such things as playdates or mom's groups. You played with who lived near you or spent a lot of time alone. All of our moms were SAHM. No one I knew growing up went to daycare. If both parents worked, the kids went to Grandmas each day and played with the kids in her neighborhood.

In my neighborhood, all the kids are gone during the day -- all in daycare. There is not one kid my son's age to play with during the week.

I think kids who have a parent SAH are at a disadvantage nowadays (speaking as a SAHM to a 4 year old who goes to a daycare part time for "socialization") when they get to K. My son is learning the same stuff in daycare that he would learn here, but I think he needs time away from me to make his own friends, not just be friends with kids in my daycare. He also needs to learn how to take direction from someone other than a parent. He has blossomed in the past year and I credit his daycare 100% for that. All the playdates in the world couldn't teach him what he has learned there.

So, do I think socialization is needed nowadays - heck yeah!

[thatgagirl]

WOW! ITA Nanny!

Also, I cannot STAND the "your baby can read" and even "baby einstein" type programs....what a crock!

In Ca. there is a push to have the date rolled back for kindy entry....so most children would be close to 6 before they start. I think it is a great idea. I have never understood why we push children to learn things in a structured environment at such a young age. I think that children should have ample opportunties to be outside exploring nature, participating in real-life, hands-on experiences, not only in nature, but in the community as well. They learn so much more when they are doing what comes natural to them, than when they are forced to sit at a table with pencil and worksheets.

Yeah, That

[ninosqueridos]

Thanks all for your replies and the interesting discussion. I do think it would be worthwhile to add a child for socialization, especially since it would fill a part-time spot for me. Hope it goes as smoothly as it has for some of you -thanks!!