Were you in a day care center when you were under the age of 6? Do you regret being at a day care rather than being at home?

Question

When I was a child, day care centers were very uncommon. There were far more stay-at-home moms and there was more extended family available to care for children if mom and dad were both employed. I was enrolled in a kindergarten program at age 5 (which was also uncommon in the 1950's) and it was a wonderful place which gave me a great head start on formal education. (The owner of the kindergarten was a retired first grade teacher who was retired but still teaching!) I was only there for 4-5 hours per day and the remainder of the day was spent with my grandmother until my mom got home from her job. I have no regrets about being in kindergarten. Now, I am president of my church and we have a day care for children 6 weeks to 5 years old. I think it's a great facility and the children there are given great care because we monitor our teachers very closely and we never exceed the recommended student/teacher ratios. But every day care isn't great and some parents have nightmare experiences with their children being in day care. Were YOU in day care? If so, do you regret that you couldn't stay at home with mom or extended family?

razelove · Accepted Answer

My mom stayed at home with me and my sisters, when I was about old enough to be a latch key kid, she went to work at my youngest sister's school, so she was getting home soon after me, and my other little sister would. With my kids, I've seen some good day cares, and some terrible ones. The first one we used lasted about 2 days, because they didn't even change the diapers, one day you figure maybe it was just an end of the day thing, 2, they're fucking up, they shut down less than a month later.

Probably the best one was run by a Lutheran church, also the most expensive one. I've been staying home watching my little ones since COVID hit, and am just starting to look for contracts/work again.
Anyway, I don't regret it at all, there will never be another chance to spend this much time with my kids. These are memories I'll hold onto when they're teenagers and yelling "I hate you!" and shit lol

Massageman · Accepted Answer

I'm over 70. My "day care" was playing at her feet while me mother ironed clothes.

midnightmoon05 · Accepted Answer

I was not in a day care. The first 10 years. of my life I grew up in a place similar to the picture. It was beautiful and we had a community watching out for each other. It was a care free/safe enviornment. I didn't like going to school when they allowed us to go at 7 years old, it was too structure and restricted from my carefree life. (some call it the montisorri schooling - free to explore).

My little sister was sent to a daycare, she had a good experience.
Both my children went for a yr. or two with very caring, structure curriculums from the city education programs. They had a good experience/education.
Still, I think it doens't beat the care free childhood I grew up in :P

Were you in a day care center when you were under the age of 6? Do you regret being at a day care rather than being at home?

xHoneyxBeex · Accepted Answer

Yes, I attended daycare. When I was an infant and toddler, I was in an in-home daycare that was run by a family friend until I was old enough to go to school. I don't recall having any issues there. Then when I was in school (from 5 to about the age of 11), I would get on and off the bus at a local daycare in my town as well because I wasn't old enough to stay home by myself and both of my parents worked long hours. I didn't have any problems there either and when I have children, I wouldn't mind enrolling them in that daycare as well because it still exists and still has good reviews.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Grandma took care for us two. But we had the garden to escape her and her outdated broomstick :D (me, that is - my jerk brother always had been an opportunist).
We did attend a ''gymnastic group'' for kids once a week.

Not being sent to kindergarten looks like an advantage to me now: ''They'' had no chance to manipulate me into an obedient ''good citizen'' sheep. The 'normality' of our village had repelled me early. When I see how my then kid-fellows did (not) develop later in life, I feel confirmed.

exitseven · Answer

I was never in day care. Neither were my kids. My wife and I decided this before we got married. She stayed home with the kids for 11 years. It was a struggle at times and a second paycheck would have come in handy but I have no regrets. My kids played in their own yard and when they were sick they got to stay in bed and my wife would spoil them. I could not see putting my kids in day care and have them sit in a dirty diaper until 5 minutes before the parents picked them up. All the people who say that being in daycare is okay for kids are full of Bull. Most are trying to get over their own guilt feelings for sticking their kids with a stranger so they could afford a new BMW.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

We had regular German kindergarten from age three to six which ran from 8 to 13 o' clock, if I remember correctly. It was a lot of fun. Hundreds of books, wood bricks, Lego, metal construction kits, painting and coloring, games, playing inside or outside with friends... I remember it fondly.

TrueConfection · Answer

I'm not sure how to vote on this one. My mother was a stay-at-home mom and the only time I went to daycare was after a lot odlf begging to go to the after school daycare center with my friends. My mother pulled me out after finding out how much junk was going on there. The only reason I don't really regret going is that it gave me an inside to what those places can be like.

Sun_Kim-Ai · Answer

Never been in daycare, I was more or less kept isolated because of my health issues.
Now, in my role of mayor, I do my best to promote daycares and social afterschools for childrens of all ages.
For this Summer, there's a young pioneers and troops Summer camp in the works!

Lucy68 · Answer

I never went to daycare, when I was coming up I had a nanny when I was little and she wasn't the best, so my mother hired a babysitter to watch me while she was away at work (my father went on business trips a lot) and to this day I miss my babysitter, she's one of the reasons why I love Halloween, spooky ghost stories, rock bands, and anything European

Texasgal95 · Answer

My mom was a stay at home mom but I currently work at a daycare and I know a lot of those parents have to put their child in daycare because they don’t have family around that can babysit for them so it’s there on my way to work especially a single parent that’s why you do you do diligence Henri certain facilities in your area before placing your child there

WhitneySnow · Answer

I had a nanny to take care of me when I was under 6, but she didn’t live with us and once in a while I had to spend the day in day care when my nanny was unavailable and my mom couldn’t take care of me. It didn’t bother me or traumatize me in any way that I can remember. It wasn’t like a regular thing or anything.

Andres77 · Answer

Started kindergarten at 4 years old.
Was diagnosed with Asperger's about 9 year's ago. Looking back, that explains a lot.
I was smart enough to get the material but never made any friends and my homework was always late, which gave the abusive principal ample excuse to beat me in "God's name".
Graduated at 17 and joined the army.
I was able to buy my mom a car as hers just died soon after I left home.

schittywok · Answer

What's the definition of day care? The cookie cutter style chain arrangements? I could not say. However, being sent to who is recommended house wives that make some extra money for the household. Them people are fantastic. I got no qualms with it. Had like 4 different situations like that, plus I stayed with Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles. What can I say, always had a fun time as a child all the way through graduation.

Brainsbeforebeauty · Answer

I was never in a daycare and neither were my two daughters..
I cleaned a couple daycares when used to do cleaning and🤢
They either had an aunt that watched them, or we both worked, he worked 1st shift and I worked second

Yucy_Gluttony · Answer

I just watched the video. That actually broke my heart, how can this exist? I don't think I would be able to contain myself once I found out they did this to my child. I would attack the caretakers on sight.

Lionman95 · Answer

I went to a daycare from age of 3 to 6 and I don´t remember much so I can´t say if anything went that bad.
I don´t regret because at home/in my neighbor most kids my age where girls I don´t know if staying at home were that better.

just_a_potato · Answer

I can't even remember what day care was like. All I know is from what I hear on the news and by word of mouth, my kids aren't going there that's for sure. I don't have any negative memories of daycare myself.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

At school from 4/5 in the UK which is great as it meant getting fed. being at home would have been no food and likely the odd punishment or just wandering the streets.

beebella · Answer

I went to a pre-school that was a part of a community college because it was basically free daycare if you were a student at that college, which my mom was at the time.
I don't "regret" going there, but I did always hate going there. 😂

OldSchool_Metalhead · Answer

Never was there not even one time. My mom was always a stay at home kind. And im glad i never went lol

LaFemmeFatale_1 · Answer

I don’t regret anything.  I am a tough nut because of experiences I’ve had.  Being at home was the most stressful part of my childhood.

Rockstarrrrr · Answer

It was okay.. It kinda set me up for school.. First week at school would be a lot tougher if I hadn't experienced being around other kids away from home before.. It was actually helpful

Sour-rose · Answer

I was a kid... and i didn't lose an arm in that daycare sooo... it's fine?

Daniela1982 · Answer

I wouldn't care as there were other kids to play with there.

Avicenna · Answer

Yeah, my sister and I were in daycare since my mom was a single mom and working

FinalFantasyBro · Answer

For a sec I thought that one little white boy were knocking the shit out of the other kid in picture two. 😂

Twalli · Answer

Apparently I was terrified that my parents were abandoning me, eventually they found a book where a dog went to school and then it's mom picked it up at the end. For whatever reason that worked.

Anonymous · Answer

In the UK we attend school at age four, nursery at age 3. Really I think its just to get women back into the workforce

Orbis · Answer

Yes, I was in daycare until age 3. Most of my first memories were formed there, I just wish I had first memories that involves only my parents (Not my daycare memories or memories of those teachers coming to our home and meeting my parents).

Anonymous · Answer

I was in 2 daycares as a kid and both were wonderful. I have nothing but fond memories of the teachers there and the other kids.

TransAm85 · Answer

I was never in day care, but my brother and I went to a Bible study for a few years. That was sort of a day care b/c then our babysitter would pick us up w/her kids.. my mom didn't come until late when she was done working.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

I was, and I f'ing loved it!! I wish I could have gone more.

Likes2drive · Answer

No of us were, my mom stayed home while my dad worked

Fireguy17 · Answer

when I was a kid there was no such thing as day care. I was either at home, or at my grandparents farm.

BCRanger10 · Answer

No. My mom stayed at home until my youngest sister was in school.

Chiarac2003 · Answer

No I was with either sets of grandparents 🎀

Agape93 · Answer

Honestly I'd have rather been at a daycare

Blackcupcake · Answer

I started going to daycare at 1y old lol

snackthatsmilesback · Answer

Daycare is kinda expensive anyway.

douride2 · Answer

I was never in day care.

ArtemisSilver · Answer

I remember not liking the food.

driven159 · Answer

didn't have it when I was young

xJayleenx · Answer

When I was 7 I was I don’t regret it

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

Yeah, it was pretty good

Slim57 · Answer

Yeah I don't regret it I made a few friends

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

No, I was never placed in a daycare center

flirtatiousgirl · Answer

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Were you in a day care center when you were under the age of 6? Do you regret being at a day care rather than being at home?

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