Erica Flood

Professor Mark Jarvis

FHS 1500
October 1, 2016
U3 Essay: Option C Child Care
Question: If you were considering leaving your three year-old child in a child care facility
(family day care or child care center), what would be your major concerns? Why?
Would your concerns be different, if your child were an infant? Explain. Would you
prefer an academic or a child-centered preschool for your child? Why?
Answer:
According to the census bureau, 69.9 percent of women with children under the
age of 18 worked outside of the home in 2015. There is more of a need, and a desire for
women to work outside of the home now than there was years ago. Women had the role
of staying home with the children, and taking care of them. Though that may be ideal for
some women, it may not be realistic. Financially, they may need to work outside of the
home to provide for their families. Since more women are working outside of the home,
more and more children are attending a childcare facility.
There are many benefits for children to attend a childcare facility. In the textbook,
it explains that those who have a poor learning environment in their homes would benefit
from childcare most. If the home environment is poor, a good preschool program aids
health, cognition, and social skills. If, instead a family provides excellent learning,
children still benefit from attending a high- quality program. (Berger, 2016, p. 188).
Though there are many benefits for children attending a childcare facility, I still
would have my concerns. I would be concerned about not being there for my child during
critical learning phases. I would be concerned about if there are too many children around

for my child to have the attention needed. I would be concerned about if they will receive
the education needed for them to be ready to begin elementary school. Thoroughly
researching a facility, and finding one that will be best for my child can resolve most of
these concerns.
I am currently pregnant and I have thought a great deal about whether or not I will
work when the baby is born. The concerns listed above are still vital concerns that I have
for my unborn baby. I do believe that if at all possible, it is important for the mother to be
home with the infant. Infants need their mothers, especially if they are breast-feeding.
There is a difference between academic and child centered preschools.
Academic preschools are more focused on the teacher teaching the child a specific topic,
and strengthening their cognitive skills. A child centered preschool is focused on the
child following their own desires, instead of the teacher directing them. Children should
be allowed to select many of their own activities from a variety of learning areas that the
teacher has prepared. (Berger, 2016, p. 189). Though a child centered preschool is
focused on children gaining independence and strengthening their creativity, they also get
the academic learning as well.
Personally, I would love for my children to attend a child centered preschool. It
would allow my children to express themselves at a young age, and help them to make
their own decisions. They would be encouraged to show their creativity, and learn at the
same time.
Overall, I would not be opposed to have my child attend a childcare facility in the
future. I would love to be a stay at home mom if at all possible, but even if I do stay
home with my children I still want them to attend a preschool outside of the home.

Word count: 532

Reference list:
Berger, K. S. (2016). Invitation to the life span (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Worth
Publishers.