Daycares Don't Care

There is an interesting site I came across many years ago. The name of the site is Daycare's Don't Care. This site was created by, what I can assume, is a mother who is anti-daycare. It might seem strange that as a daycare provider I am including information about an anti-daycare site on my blog. And stranger still is that I think the site has some merit. There are many points of concern and comment that are undeniably true.

I visit this site often. I like to read any new articles on the detrimental effects of daycare on children. It has been known for many years that the younger a child enters daycare and the more hours a child spends in non-family care the more aggressive that child will be or become. These are not opinions - they are fact. And Daycares Don't Care is quick to point this out.

The other section of this site that is interesting are the comments by daycare workers. I encourage you to pour yourself a cup of coffee and browse those comments. You might be surprised by how true those comments are and how many of them ring true in your own head. If anything, those comments, made by real, honest to goodness people, tell the real story of daycare. Some of those comments are resentful, some of them insightful, but most of them are simply sad. These comments, more than anything I have ever read about daycare are true. Granted, a lot of these comments refer to commercial or centre-based daycare and not the home daycare environment but all in all they do not paint a very pretty picture.

The main objective of the site owner can be found in the header of the site's title - How Can A Daycare Love? And I think the site does a fairly good job of dispelling the myth that anyone, other than a parent can truly love a child with the same capacity. And children need, above all, love. Not just a passing love that consists of compassion or empathy but an unbridled love. A love so great their caretaker would risk life and limb for them above all others. And, as asked by the site, can this level of love be found in daycare?

Some of my favourite comments:

I know most of the children at my daycare seem happy, but I also see a loss because they are not with their parents very much. I do agree that being in a place for 11 to 12 hours, 5 days a week without your mom or dad has to be so hard emotionally.

I have done Daycare in my home...it may sound ironic but I agree with a lot of the views on your site.
I feel sorry for the kids that are at my house from 7am to 6pm on the dot.
...I try to show love to the kids that I watch, but when you have 4-6 of them...it can be hard.
I would NEVER put my own kids in daycare.

...As far as the feelings toward the children in the daycare where I worked, I freely admit that I did not and could not care as deeply for the children as their parents. In fact, as...I speak with brutal honesty, there were children that I was very fond of and others that got on my last nerve on a regular basis. Many of my co-workers admitted that they felt the same way. I can not say truthfully that I LOVED any of them...

Seem heartless? Maybe. But how many of them, if you thought long and hard ring true in some small way or another? Sadly, this site points out the undeniable truth. And I am for the truth regardless whether it is disadvantageous to me or not.

Daycares Don't Care has hit an raw, uncovered nerve in a way that exposes truth and asks real people to back up that truth. And surprisingly, it is the very people being paid by the industry who are breaking the silence. And to them I offer kudos for having the fortitude to stand up and speak the unpopular notion that daycare is great for society. It never was and it never will be.

Yes, I provide care to children. And, despite what you might have just read I will continue to do so. It seems counter intuitive to provide care while singing the praises of sites like Daycares Don't Care. But the simple fact is that nothing I say, or others like me might say, will change the reality that children all over the world will show up at daycare tomorrow. And I know that what I provide for those children far surpasses the environment and care level where many other children spend their days. So for now, I will give what I can to those I can legally care for. At least in some small way I am ensuring that five children will not be forced to spend their days in some of the care situations commented on by those daycare workers on Daycares Don't Care.

Maybe one day we will all wake up and realize that we don't need to live the way we do. That we don't need multiple vehicles, the latest and greatest electronics, cellphones, extended cable packages, hair styles that cost more than our food bill and restaurant meals every single week. Maybe one day we will wake up and realize that the Jones' had it all wrong; that our children are more important than material possessions that make us feel good only until the newest version debuts wherein we will have to work overtime to afford it. But until then I'll continue to offer care because sadly, there are children who need it.




For concerns, advice or suggestions I welcome your email at judytrickett@yahoo.ca