There are many opinions on what age is best for a child to begin attending daycare. Some parents and pediatricians believe sending a child to daycare earlier is best so there’s less separation anxiety. Others believe that waiting until the child is older allows for proper parental bonding.
There are a dozen other factors to consider, as well, such as the child’s immune system, social tendencies, and the parent’s work schedule. Some parents must go back to work six weeks after delivering a baby, while others can wait a few years and easily resume their occupation.
While there’s no right or wrong answer, most pediatricians recommend children attend daycare beginning around one year old.
The Best Age to Start Daycare
Many pediatricians recommend children start daycare around age one. There are several reasons for this:
A More Developed Immune System
Babies younger than one year have a developing immune system and could be sick frequently. Children who are exposed to illnesses early and often develop immunity faster than isolated children, but letting your child’s immune system mature could help them fight off infections.
A Better Parental Attachment
12 months is the sweet spot for enrolling your child in daycare because it allows parental-child bonding but the child isn’t old enough to experience severe separation anxiety during drop-off.
Better Behavior
One study noted that children enrolled in daycare at 12 months behaved better than their peers who stayed home. Children at 12 months are growing socially and when enrolled in daycare, have ample opportunity to learn important social skills, such as sharing toys, playing with friends, and communicating with baby sign language. Babies who don’t have regular peer interaction miss out on opportunities to grow and integrate these social skills.
The Earliest Age to Start Daycare
Studies show there are benefits to enrolling a child younger than 12 months. Children enrolled at six months have better cognitive and social skills than peers who stay at home.
Bright Start Louisville enrolls infants as young as six weeks. We ensure we care for these precious little ones and give them the love and attention they need to grow and thrive.
The Worst Age to Enroll in Daycare
Knowing the best age to start daycare begs the question: is there a bad age to enroll in daycare?
While there’s never a bad time to enroll in daycare, children aged three and four have the hardest time transitioning to daycare. This is especially true if they’ve exclusively stayed home with a parent and not had other regular babysitters.
When children are used to spending all their time with their parents, such a drastic change in routine can cause a lot of anxiety, hyperactivity, and behavioral issues in children.
But this doesn’t mean enrolling your three-or-four-year-old will be disastrous! At Bright Start Louisville, we have compassionate teachers who will help your child quickly acclimate to a daycare setting. We have an excellent early preschool curriculum that lets your child get a head start on kindergarten skills.
Age Doesn’t Matter–As Long As Care is Quality
While there is much debate about the best time to enroll a child in daycare, experts agree that daycare is beneficial for children of every age as long as the daycare provides quality care. A daycare that provides predictable routines, age-appropriate education, nutritional meals, and creative playtime gives your child everything they need to grow.
Bright Start Louisville provides outstanding care to children enrolled in our program. It doesn’t matter what age your child begins daycare, at Bright Start Louisville, they will be cared for by kind and compassionate teachers who want to see them reach their highest potential. Children in our program receive age-appropriate education that grows their fine and gross motor skills, social skills, and early educational knowledge.
Bright Start Louisville offers exceptional childcare to children six weeks to 12 years old. We’re proud to offer a fun and educational preschool program that prepares your child for kindergarten per state educational standards.
If you’re looking for excellent childcare that gives your child a head start in life, contact Bright Start Louisville today!