I ended my career also, to raise my own children. I took both children to daycare for interacting with other children (social development), and I sat outside the daycare in my car every day (well, the 2 or 3 days a week they were there, not every day) looking through their large glass windows, watching my children without them knowing I was there (because if they saw me, they'd cry to get to me lol). My daughter had pretty bad separation anxiety, so I felt she really, really needed to be there a couple of hours a day - not every day, just 2 or 3 days a week.
I used Montessori preschool, age about 3 through kindergarten. Only about 2.5 hours a day. Quite enough for socialization and real exposure to learning experiences, as opposed to day care.
OH and she would RUN to me when I picked her up!
I highly recommend the Montessori method, and I supplemented it at home also.
The place I used was a preschool (I said daycare, because they were also that for babies). Whatever they did there, my children came out being excellent readers, well beyond their grade expectations, so no complaints!
Yes a few hours of planned use of the toddler's time along with socialization is worth it. I also used play groups, same kids with different activities, birthday parties, etc.
A child raised at home even without siblings is NOT deprived of socialization!
I ended my career also, to raise my own children. I took both children to daycare for interacting with other children (social development), and I sat outside the daycare in my car every day (well, the 2 or 3 days a week they were there, not every day) looking through their large glass windows, watching my children without them knowing I was there (because if they saw me, they'd cry to get to me lol). My daughter had pretty bad separation anxiety, so I felt she really, really needed to be there a couple of hours a day - not every day, just 2 or 3 days a week.
I used Montessori preschool, age about 3 through kindergarten. Only about 2.5 hours a day. Quite enough for socialization and real exposure to learning experiences, as opposed to day care.
OH and she would RUN to me when I picked her up!
I highly recommend the Montessori method, and I supplemented it at home also.
Best for you and your family, fren!
The place I used was a preschool (I said daycare, because they were also that for babies). Whatever they did there, my children came out being excellent readers, well beyond their grade expectations, so no complaints!
Yes a few hours of planned use of the toddler's time along with socialization is worth it. I also used play groups, same kids with different activities, birthday parties, etc.
A child raised at home even without siblings is NOT deprived of socialization!