Beyond
Babysitting:
Children
need personal, attentive care
PRESS
RELEASE
With
65 percent of U.S. mothers who have children under the age of six
working, childcare has become an increasingly widespread concern and
coveted commodity in recent years. A group of Seattle-area parents and
childcare directors recently voiced their concern for the amount of
high-quality childcare providers in Seattle by proposing a 10-cent tax
on latte drinks. Preliminarily supported by three-fourths of Seattle
voters, the tax could raise up to $7-10 million per year in education
and childcare funding.
The
concern comes due to the fact that, for parents who must leave their
little ones in the hands of others, the options can seem somewhat
limited. Whether daycare, a babysitter or another arrangement is chosen,
the most important aspect to consider in childcare—beyond basics such
as safety and health concerns—is whether the childcare provider
encourages development.
According
to experts Stanley I. Greenspan and T. Berry Brazelton in their book, The
Irreducible Needs of Children, the need for concentrated, one-on-one
attention is exceedingly important for children, especially during the
preschool years.
Parents,
of course, play the most important role in their children’s
development. A recent study by the National Institute of Health,
however, found the quality of interaction between childcare providers
and children to be a good indicator of development. When quality is
high, children tend to excel on tests of intellectual development,
school preparedness and vocabulary, as well as exhibit fewer behavioral
problems.
So
while even high quality one-on-one childcare is no substitute for
parent-child interaction, it can serve as an excellent addition to a
child’s life and experiences.
One
option for parents seeking to enrich their child’s care is enlisting
the help of a full- or part-time nanny.
“By
providing the personalized care of a nanny, parents can give their
children increased stability and attention,” says Nicole Pierno,
director of Seattle’s In Loving Hands nanny placement agency.
The
agency’s credo sums this thought up nicely: loving care with
personalized flair. “That’s exactly what our nannies provide and
it’s also what we strive to offer our clients,” says Pierno.
For
childcare resources and more information on hiring a nanny, call
425-882-3618 or 425-338-9528 or visit www.LovingHandsNannies.com.
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