People have different views regarding the nurturing of young children in families where parents work full time. Some believe that childcare centers are the ideal option because of structured environment and opportunities for socialization, while others argue that children should be left with their grandparents since they can instill children their cultural heritage and traditions, meanwhile offering more flexibility in meeting both children’s and parents’ needs. In my opinion, the choice depends on the condition of a family; however, I am completely against leaving children to others all the time whether it is a professional center or other family members, as children need to spend the majority of their childhood with their parents.
The proponents of professional qualified caregivers argue that they offer more structured and systemized atmosphere, by religiously following ready curriculums. Unlike relatives of children, preschools foster various types of developments for children, including mental, physical and social. That is to say, when a child attends a childcare center he or she sits in classes that help them with their cognitive development, along with physical activities and social activities, such as team games or different events. These opportunities might not be found in child’s grandparents’ home. On top of that, socialization – very crucial skill for all humans – makes person more adaptable for different circumstances and environments, by providing children with opportunities to have conversations with other children of various backgrounds. For instance, when a child is at their grandparents’ home, they can only communicate with them and other relatives with similar mindsets and background; at childcare centers, on the other hand, they can socialize and play with children from rich families and poor families, which makes them more well rounded and considerate in the future.
Nevertheless, elderly members of family can explain their grandchildren their generational traditions, which might be damaged in places where they mix with other children with different views and traditions. Some familial traditions might seem strange to some people, so it may lead to mockers and conflicts among youth; hence, in order to conserve cultural heritage and familial traditions young children should stay with their grandparents to get a quality care and to get familiar with local activities. Additionally, one advantage of grandparents that no one else can have is sincerity. Most professional caregivers work with children for the sake of money and career, so they can sometimes get bad-tempered and lose their control while dealing with disobedient children. As a result, they can do or say something that leaves a lifelong childhood trauma in children. Another unparalleled advantage of grandparents is their flexibility; in other words, they can work long hours if the parents of a child are away for very long or even when they go for a vacation.
From my point of view, however, parents should not leave their children for a long time. People should stop being materialistic and should start caring more about their relationships with their children. So, one of the parents, mothers in particular, should stay home and look after their children since nothing can be equal to parents’ care. While grandparents may find it stressful and tiring to nurture young children, childcare institutions can overlook the importance of quality and politeness in their jobs.
In conclusion, despite of the benefits of both childcare centers and grandparents in the development of youngsters, I believe that parents should not put too much attention to making money, which lead to leaving their children to others, losing their sense of belonging.