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We are open 12 hours a day, 5 days a week and got to wondering something, do you think that dcks especially dkb who are here all day long, each week, think that DC is home and home is their DC? We have 2 babies that lunge into our arms happily in the mornings and are reluctant or even crying when they have to leave in the evenings. Do they think that this is their home? Anyone else wonder this?
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I'm not sure what they think, or even what our own kids really think about daycare in the home, but I have a few like you described. Many times, these kids are with us more than their parents, so for a few, they might just think this is their home (or maybe they just want it to be). -
I think it's the only stable, consistent place for a few of them. I also have one DCB who is here more hours a day than with his custodial parent. He basically goes home, eats & to bed. Sad...Comment
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Yes! I have one that goes to bed at 6:30 pm at home, then wakes up and comes here, so she only spends 5 hours during the week with her mom and 50 with me. Her mom always complains about her behavior at home on weekends, but she is an angel here. She's 3 and every day she slips up and calls me Mom, then corrects herself when she realizes.Comment
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I wonder that myself. I'm sure they know home is home, but sometimes here is more home-like. All my dck's at some point call me Mommy, probably because they hear my kids say it, or because they know I am a mommy figure in their life.
I had one boy whose home life was so crazy. He was here open to close. When he left he never knew where he would go, mom's house, dad's house, grandma's, papa's, mom's boyfriend, dad's girlfriend. There was NO constant at home. The poor kid, he LOVED being here, never wanted to leave, I felt so bad.Comment
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I think child care is different for every child.
For some this is the only consistent stable environment they have.
For others, this is just a place to play and learn with friends.
It depends on what life is like at their homes and what it is they are needing or lacking in their lives (if anything).
My DCK's all spend a good portion of their day here with me but none of them view or consider daycare their homes. My DCK's are all excited to come play and learn but they are just as excited to see mom or dad at the end of a day too.
I don't ever try to replicate the home atmosphere because for me that is not the service I offer or wish to provide. I DO make sure that the environment is caring, nurturing and supportive of the children's growth and development but I am careful to have specific personal guidelines as to what I view as my role and the parent's role in the child's life.
I think for me (and probably for the child) keeping that line clear helps in understanding and processing the day to day activities as well as defining the role daycare has in their lives.Comment
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My absolute favorite dcf had a son with a speech delay who started when he was two. He always called me 'mom' because that was one of his few words that he knew. He's almost 6 now (aged out of daycare) and one of my ds BFF. When he comes by to visit or pick up my ds for a play date, he always comes in to the daycare and yell 'I'm home!' He even calls my dad 'grandpa'. His mom always jokes that I'm his second mom and that this is his second home :
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That's my special dcf that I hope to always have a relationship with, so to that one dcb, yes this was his 'other' home.
I think my dcks think of this as their second 'home', just like they will say 'my' school when they get older. I think it's cute, but I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary to make this a replacement home. This is a safe & fun environment for them to come and hang out for the day. My daycare area is separate from our living area so that could be whtComment
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