Appearing in France around 1850, child care facilities known as the Societe des Crèches (Society of Nativity) were first recognized by the French government in 1869. In the United States, early child care and daycare programs originated with the welfare and reform movements of the 19th century, beginning with the first established daycare program in 1854, known as the New York Day Nursery. Today, enrolling children pre-schools and other daycare programs alike are extremely common among American families.
Recent research shows that children who received high-quality early childhood education are more likely to own a home, have a job and earn at least $5,000 more in annual income than the comparable group of children who didn’t receive pre-kindergarten education. Additional studies show that children who received pre-kindergarten education and child care are almost 25% more likely to attend a four-year college. The benefits involved with daycare programs are not only for the children. Parents rely on these programs as a solution for reliable and safe care for their children while they are busy during the day with typical responsibilities such as their careers.
However, choosing a daycare isn’t necessarily a solution for only young children. Many parents utilize daycare programs for pre-teens, too. While middle school activities can provide a reliable after school solution for pre-teens to receive adequate care while their parents are still at work, day care is also suitable for students in middle school to take advantage of. Like middle school activities, a large portion of day care businesses offer after school day care activities for older children, and many parents rely on these programs to watch their kids until they return home from work.
Many children in middle school are not independent or responsible enough to care for themselves after school, in which case it’s a smart idea to take advantage of day care programs for their age group. Parents can feel less worrisome about their children after school when they are involved in such programs. Additionally, kids will have an opportunity to meet new friends and maintain an active, social lifestyle while they wait for their parents to get home from work. Continue your research here.