What is Day Care For?

Daycare is a place for children to be who have working parents.  Pre-school is where parents put their children to prepare for Kindergarten.    Children can be socialized many ways that do not have to include either of these places.   

Before my son's first day at daycare, I cried and cried. However, he LOVES it. Not all daycares "teach your kids how to hit and bite." If you go to a good one, it will teach them all of the above. He loves going there and has learned so much.

I agree Superlurker. But I'm very much an advocate for preschool.

I voted for all of the above. If you have the right daycare, it does do all those things for your child. Of course some bad behaviors can be learned when kids are around other kids, but it is up to the parents to teach their own kids right. If it wasn't for daycare parents wouldn't be able to work and support their kids. I support daycare 100%.

I so agree with Glowing4Caleb I mean if all daycares taught was to hit and bite you definately sent your kids to a bad daycare. Kids are going to learn how to hit and bite even if you don't put them in Daycare. Like Superlurker also said it's seperate stages of age.

I agree with Amberfire82.  I will miss my daughter's daycare when she starts pre-k this fall.

I voted for all of the above.  All three of my children have been in daycare, and all three flourished.  None of them were hitters or biters, either - that depends on the child.

I agree with Amberfire 100%. 

When my kids had to switch daycare due to my provider's change of hours I looked at about 10 different providers before I found the right new one for my kids.  All kids go through a hitting and biting phase (even if they're not in daycare).  It's up to us as parents to help them see it's not proper behavior and if they are in daycare, the provider should be helping teach this as well.

I believe in preschool. I have had kids in daycare, and although they had a good experience, I believe it is important for them to be at home with mom or dad until it's time for preschool. My husband and I have done all kinds of things through the years to keep them home, including working opposite shifts, going without one vehicle, and giving up fun things like vacations. I hope someday my kids understand why we sacrificed to give them some important time with us!