Daycare or Preschool?

Parents always want the best for their children, especially their safety while they are away at work. One of the questions they face in this situation is whether they should send the kids to daycare or to preschool.  The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they differ in structures, functions and objectives. Parents need to understand the differences, so that they can make the right decisions for their kids.

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What is daycare?                       

Daycare has one primary objective – providing a safe environment for children when their parents are away busy. For the children, it provides a secure space to meet and interact with other children of the same age. They learn how to function there in groups, and develop basic social skills. Some basic learning in the form of group activities is also part of the experience.

For parents, it means that they can go off to work or attend to other things, knowing that their children in daycare are safe in their absence. This helps them function without distraction, and perform better than they would when they are worried about their children.

Daycares need not follow school timings, which mean that their working hours can be long enough to cover the parents’ normal working hours. They are usually open during school holidays and breaks, and so parents are not under compulsion to find alternate solutions during such times. Daycare has another positive feature: typically, it accepts children of an age that many preschools may not consider for admission.

What is a preschool?

Preschools typically accept children in the 3 – 5 age group. These children are old enough to start a basic form of formal learning, but not old enough to start going to kindergarten. The aim of a preschool is to provide children with a foundation that they can build on, once they start their formal schooling. This will surely facilitate their transition to the formal school environment easier.

The main drawback, at least for working parents, is that preschools keep to school timings, and remain usually closed on school holidays and breaks. Therefore, parents have to find another childcare option during these times.

Which is better?

There is no clear-cut answer to this question. Daycare may promote better social skills and communication abilities. Preschool may provide a foundation that makes the transition to formal schooling easier. However, neither of these is an essential factor in matters of success in school. In the long run, the differences even out, and there is no evidence at all that children from either option have an advantage over the other.

The main advantage of daycare is that the timings are more suited to working parents, as they do not have to worry about adhering strictly to school timings and finding secure places for their children during holidays and breaks.

If you were, as a parent, looking for the right daycare for your child, it would be best to use a reliable online resource. It lists all the safe daycares in your area and provides you with contact information and other related details.