Child Care Help: Safe, Comfortable Environment vs a New, More Stimulating One?

HI B.,
I think if you're happy with your caregivers and he's happy there you should keep him there... UNLESS you feel like part of his love for the daycare environment is that there are other kids there stimulating him and that he has bonded to. At a year old kids don't necessarily PLAY with other kids, but they are getting valuable skills from being around other kids and they do like being around other kids. But if you have play groups or friends and family that you are around often so he gets that kid exposure, I'd leave him where he is.

From my own experience I see that by age 2 kids are really needing to be with other kids and by age 3 they need to be with kids that are their own age (primarily). In terms of his age now, you have some time to find another place when the time is right for you and for him.

Good luck! Good childcare is tough to find!

He's only one. Keep him where he's comfortable and happy.

I vote keep him there. Just think of the love he will receive and the fact that they care about him and you. You can't ask for more than that.

At his age, children don't even play with each other. They play next to each other, in their own little world. They are still inwardly focused. It is good adult interaction that is crucial at this point. I dont see the need for other children at all until about 4 years old. If it were me I'd be thrilled to be able to keep him in a safe, one on one, adult environment.

Hi B.,

Sounds like you really want to keep him where he is now and you're mostly concerned about down the road. Is that right? Well, why not leave him where he is and then rethink down the road? Even if you move him to a more stimulating in-home, at some point your probably going to wonder if he needs a more stimulating pre-school environment. My advice would be to keep doing what's working and make a change when it's not working anymore.

Hope this helps,
T.

Hi B.- I think you'd be crazy to try to find another provider. He's a baby, many little ones spend almost all of their time with one person, Mom, and have all the stimulation they need to thrive. There's plenty of time for larger daycare settings and preschool when he gets older. As long as the care is as great as you say, enjoy it while he's young. Your piece of mind and trust is one of the most important factors and this stage!