I took my toddlers to a daycare that had big windows looking in and I sat in the parking lot watching them play for 4 hours twice a week. It was for social development, but I did see another toddler push my son down and I was on that shit like white on rice. My children have really fond memories of the place, and they had no idea I was sitting outside in my car watching them the entire time. But yeah, otherwise I agree - the cost of full-time daycare would have been equal to my salary if I'd gone back to work, so a wash - plus I wouldn't be able to keep an eye on them.