In article
,
Beliavsky wrote:

I know my daughter will benefit tremendously from being around other
children in a structured educational setting. She will be in a group
of 9 children, who are looked after by 2 teachers and one part-time
assistant.

I disagree. My 2yo learns a lot from his parents, his baby-sitter, and
his 4yo brother, and I don't think he is missing much by not being
around other 2yo's.

But you don't *know*.

DS2 is getting quite a few things at day care that he doesn't get at home. He
plays with kids who don't necessarily speak English very well, and are of
various cultural backgrounds. Most are of a lower SES than our family -- we
live in a lower middle class area. He plays with materials I'd never be
bothered with at home and plays games he would not get here. You can't really
play Sandy Girl with only two children!

Day care, as I see it, is a substitute for playing with the kids in the street
-- which is what my parents got to do as children. It breaks down social
barriers and broadens the mind. I am quite competent to see to my child's
education myself, and to his morals, but I cannot provide the experience of
diversity (or of being in a large group of children). Most of my friends and
family are Anglophone, well-off and tertiary-educated. I'd hate it if he
thought that "everyone" lived like that -- and I've met plenty of people who
do!

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

http://chookiesbackyard.blogspot.com/