There are few aspects of parenting that are black and white. In many situations there is a gray area where knowing what the best course of action is often more complicated than making a simple choice between one or another. For parents of children who are not yet school aged, one of the most difficult decisions is whether or not one parent stays home to care for the child or if the child is enrolled in a daycare program. While many parents find themselves firmly on one side of this debate, the fact remains there are benefits from both options. Consider the following “pros” of both daycare and staying at home to determine which situation works best for your family.

Stay at Home Pros

• More time with your child- If you are looking at this from a position of how much time you have available with your child each day, there is no argument that staying at home will give you more opportunities to bond with your child. It is important to remember it is not always how much time you have, but the quality of the time you spend with your child. Staying at home to raise your child will give you more time to bond and engage in parent-child activities.
• Peace of mind- There are many concerns that are routinely raised when it comes to the quality of care children receive in a daycare setting. There are many horror stories of children who have been neglected, abused, hurt or even killed while under the care of a childcare provider. This is generally the exception to the rule with quality daycare providers meeting or exceeding requirements set forth by government agencies. Nevertheless, there is a peace of mind in knowing that you do not have to trust “strangers” to provide the physical and emotional care necessary to raise a healthy, well adjusted child.
• Financial benefits- As with many other areas of life, it is always important to factor in the impact paying for a daycare provider will have on your personal finances. Depending on how much income you can earn by returning to work, it may actually cost you more to send your child to daycare than simply staying home from work to care for him/her on your own.

Daycare Pros

• Social skills- A quality daycare program can offer children opportunities to develop social skills that might be missed in a stay-at-home setting. Children enrolled in daycare programs that encourage interaction with both children and caregivers, as well as group interaction can bolster a child’s self esteem and build confidence in the child as they grow. Classroom settings allow children to learn how to behave properly in a group which will make the transition to kindergarten easier than a child that has not been exposed to the same environment.
• Fun activities and education- Children not only learn how to interact with others but also have the chance to do so in an environment that encourages learning and includes fun activities.
• Career development for parents- Parents who are career minded find great satisfaction and personal pleasure in the work that they do. This is important in that a person who denies this part of their personality could quickly grow restless and even resentful if they must put this part of their life on hold. While some might argue this is selfish, in most cases career development is vital, not only for the mental well being of the parent but the economic future of the family as a whole.

At the end of the day, the question of whether to stay-at-home or enroll your child in a daycare program is a personal decision. This decision should be based on what is right for your family, as you are the people who will be directly affected by the decision.