Sends Kids To Daycare On Day Off

Many parents take their kids to daycare on a full time basis as they’re working full time. However, there are many parents who only put their kids in daycare a few days a week, or even just partial days. They don’t work full time or they’re able to stagger their days with their partner so that they take turns at home with the kids.

Regardless of why you might not be taking your kids to daycare full time, you likely have the opportunity to take them to daycare more than you do. You could take them for an extra day a week, or you could leave them for more hours on a day that you already take them to daycare. For some parents, this may seem like a questionable choice.

The biggest hurdle for most parents to overcome with this strategy is thinking that they’re a bad parent. You feel like you should be with your kids whenever you are able to, and you don’t want to leave them at daycare. This is certainly a valid concern. However, there may be even more compelling reasons for you to have the extra time without the kids.

First off, if you have found a good daycare, then you shouldn’t be worried about your kids general well-being. They are being taken care of. Furthermore, your child is likely interacting with several other kids at daycare rather than only you (and a brother or sister at home). They’re building relationships with their peers, and learning how to spend time without a parent nearby.

Even more compelling than the potential positives of daycare is that you may really need the time to recharge. If you’re working the entire time your kids are at daycare, and then you bring them home and are spending all of your time taking care of them, you’ll have very little time for both chores around the house and for yourself. You’ll likely feel like you’re burning out.

While spending time with your kids is absolutely important, and something you should be doing everyday when possible, you also need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself as well. Your mental state and well-being will go a long way in how you interact with your children. If you’re able to have a much more positive attitude, and be more focused on your kids then that could have a huge positive impact on your relationship with your kids. In other words, making the time you spend with your kids a more quality time can be as important as the quantity of time you spend with them.

Your kids want a happy and engaged parent when they are with you. If you’re just so burnt out because you never are able to recharge, your kids will recognize that as well and it will have a bigger negative impact on them then sending your kids to daycare for a few extra hours a week.

If you’re financially able to do so, don’t be afraid to let your kids spend some extra time at daycare so that you can get things done around the house, recharge, and make the time you spend with your kids more meaningful.