The Child Care Crisis: The Thinking Parent's Guide to Day Care

Joan McGrath is a Toronto Board of Education library consultant.

In an era of working parents, the question of day care, more specifically of quality day care, is absolutely vital. Placing a child — let alone an infant — in day care, is a most difficult decision. Author Maynard makes the strongest possible case for mothers remaining with their children for at least thefirst two, better still the first three, years of life. This arrangement where possible is best for both mother and child. The importance of parental care and parent-child bonding in those first vital months of development can scarcely be exaggerated, and all experts are agreed that, in infancy, home is the best and safest place for the child.

When there is no alternative to day care, there are still decisions to be made. Shall it be in a day care centre (of which there are several kinds, including non-profit community or government-sponsored centres, commercial centres, co-operative centres, day care in the churches, and workplace day care); shall it be family day care, or a nanny?

Each of the alternatives is examined and pros and cons are fairly set forth. None of the arrangements is perfect — but neither is home care perfect. What is stressed is the importance of examining all possibilities, and, once the choice has been made, of monitoring what is taking place with great and continuing care. What happens in day care may well affect the child’s entire life. An appendix lists locations in the United States, Canada, and Britain that are sources of information and help.