[rom4child]

What do you think is better? Have a babysitter or your child go to a day care? I have a babysitter but I start to worry about the education that my children receive. Older child, about 7 years, already goes to school starting this month, but the smaller, 3 years and a half, sitting all day with the babysitter. I think that I take my child to day care even if it will be very hard for him. However, I do not know what to choose: babysitter or day care? Please help me!

[breezzee29]

I would choose a babysitter, if you have someone good that you trust. I worked in a day care years ago, while there were good people that worked there, there were others that were not. I take care of a 14 month old in my home. I have had him a couple of months and his vocabulary has doubled, he is also eating by himself, which he wasn't doing before. I also take care of a 9 year old, he does his homework as soon as he gets home, and then I have a requirement that he reads for atleast 30 mins daily even on the weekends. So if you can find someone that is willing to provide the care that you expect I would go with a babysitter instead of daycare.

[sheababy]

Day care for us. I know I sometimes went crazy staying home with DD so surely it could happen with a sitter. With daycare there was always someone there to give the teachers a break. You have to find a great daycare though. For us it took 3 tries. DD really needs a lot stimulation. Her school has 2 1/2 acres of playgrounds and outbuildings (one is a grocery store, science cabin etc). They are always doing fun projects, lots of art, show and tell, reading, and it is Christian so they do bible studies as well.

DD will be 2 1/2 in Nov and already can count to 10, knows her colors and speaks full sentences. The good part is she knows all this from playing games-not from a super structured approach.