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As a child development expert, I know that this is a very controversial topic. There is no one right answer, and each family must assess this decision based on their resources and abilities.

But early childhood education is a very important field, and children in the care of trained professional most certainly do as well as or even better than children cared for at home.

Experts study the "domains" of development in order to understand how children are growing emotionally, socially, intellectually, in language, in math conceptual understanding, in fine motor development and in gross motor development. Study after study shows that most children are more stimulated towards healthy growth at a child care center than they are at home. Further, pre-school is an excellent predictor of school-readiness for young learners.

How can this be?

1. Children require lots of social interaction to develop. Center settings can more easily provide this than a small home environment, and then when parents collect their children, they suppliment the child's developmental opportunities during evenings on the weekends, thus maximizing engagement for the child.

2. Children in centers are surrounded by a carefully prepared, language rich environment. Quality child care centers don't rely on TV or movies, which are very common in home settings.

3. Children benefit from the input of other children. They are more inspired by peers than by adults.

4. Child care professionals are trained to handle discipline problems, whereas many parents are unfortunately not.

5. At a center, child development is the first priority. At a home, there are often other competing priorities.

6. Children at care centers become resilient and become members of a community, learning to share and support others. They fear change less and are less clingy,

7. Child care pros are trained to spot developmental delays, so children in care settings get assessment and help much sooner than children who are at home, even for simple accommodations such as eye glasses.

Of course, all of these things can be replicated in a home environment, and many families successfully do so. However, it takes a great deal of time, education and resources. Most families do not have this as an option.

In all, families choose their care settings out of love for their children and in an effort to support their development. Child care centers offer an outstanding opportunity to advance a child's development in a stimulating early learning environment.

Learn more about this author, Eva Smart.
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