Remember that child care can be great for your child as your child will benefit from interactions with other children and age-appropriate educational programs that will prepare her for school. Children learn sharing, cooperation, and problem solving sooner at child care centers. Research shows that children who receive good, quality child care tend to be ahead of other children intellectually and developmentally. Working mothers spend the same amount of time in direct interaction with their children as full-time mothers. Employed mothers spend as much time reading to and playing with their children as those at home, although they do not spend as much time simply in the same room or house with the children.
Children benefit from trusting relationships with more than one caregiver.
Research has shown that babies with more than one attachment are less distressed when mother leaves for work, they are more playful and content in the presence of other adults, and are less distracted at the birth of a sibling. A parent-child relationship is not necessarily stronger if mom stays home. Research shows that children in child care show the same degree of attachment to their mothers and the same amount of security as children with mothers who stay home. If working makes you happy, you're children will be happier. Working mothers who like their jobs have better personal adjustments, are happier, and are less depressed than full-time mothers, even those who prefer being home.