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Expert Q&A
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| By Harriet S. Worobey, M.A. Early Childhood Educator Director, the Nutritional Sciences Preschool | ||
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Why do so many children in daycare have emotional and behavioral problems?
I'm not sure that "so many" children in daycare have emotional and behavioral problems, but there is a variety of reasons for those that do. I would imagine that children who exhibit these problems early on are very difficult for parents to handle alone, so they put them in daycare to get some relief and some help.
Additionally, there are some daycare centers that are not developmentally appropriate and do not have the kind of program that allows children to grow at their own pace. For example, some centers may force 3- and 4-year-olds to sit doing worksheets. This is a difficult (and unpleasant) task even for kindergarteners. Preschoolers need lots of time for free, unstructured play, open-ended projects and outdoor play. They also need lots of supervision during playtime, so that they can learn to share and play cooperatively with other children. Some centers may lack the facilities and qualified staff to encourage optimal development.
That being said, there are many, many excellent childcare centers that help children develop and do not have many children with excessive emotional and behavioral problems. One sign to look for in a quality childcare center is accreditation by the Academy of Early Childhood Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
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