The Pros and Cons of Daycare Centres Near Your Home
First-time parents may be wondering whether they should take their child to a daycare centre which is near home or one which is close to the workplace. This article discusses some of the benefits and potential shortcomings of getting a daycare centre close to home. Use this information to make a decision regarding the appropriateness of a centre nearer home.
The Pros of Daycare Centres Near Home
Less Exhausting to the Child. One of the biggest advantages of daycare centres which are near your home is that they spare your child from having to sit in heavy traffic during rush hour at the end of the day. Such traffic conditions can exhaust your child excessively. A daycare centre at home reduces the travel time of the child.
Exposure to Neighbourhood Kids.
Your child will also have a chance to befriend the children from the same neighbourhood. This is possible because chances are high that many of the kids at that nearby daycare centre will be from the area. The bonds formed at the daycare centre can last for years as the kids grow up interacting with each other during other community activities, such as when they meet and play in the park.
Convenient Pickups.
Either parent can pick up the child without going out of their way. This convenience is particularly important in case both parents work and may travel from time to time. The proximity of the daycare centre to the home allows the parent who gets back earlier on any given day to pick up the child and take him or her home.
The Cons of Daycare Centres Near Home
Response Time Is Longer During Emergencies
It may take you longer to reach your child at the daycare centre located close to your home in case an urgent need arises for you to go there during the workday. This is because your workplace may be located far from the area where you reside. People who opt for daycare centres near the workplace are spared the distance of getting to the child when an abrupt need arises.
Delayed Pickups Are Stressful
You are likely to be stressed each time you are stuck in traffic and cannot pickup your child at the usual time. You may feel compelled to keep calling the teachers to confirm that the child is okay and that you are on your way there.
Each family's situation is different
Think about your own needs and decide whether it is better for the daycare centre to be nearer to your workplace or home. Talk to workmates and learn from their experiences regarding these two choices before you select a daycare centre for your child.
