“Making the decision to have a child – it is truly a momentous one. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside of your body.” – Elizabeth Stone
This has always been one of the most cherished quotes on parenthood as it spoke to me long before I had children of my own. Parenthood is possibly the most adventurous decisions a person can make in their lifetime. Having a child of your own can completely alter your outlook toward life and everything else. What used to qualify as a simple decision now becomes an extremely arduous one considering there exists another tiny human being you are now responsible for and this is more in effect when one or both parents are working professionals. An unforeseen circumstance of a business meeting that extends for a couple of minutes longer or a sick child that requires your attention on a maddening Monday could send any parent into a frenzy of worry.
Whether we’d like to admit it or not, most of today’s modern households need more than one income to cope with the booming cost of living that keeps rising every single year. If you’re a single parent, then you need to rely on an outside force even more to help raise your little one(s) while being able to efficiently hold down your job at the same time. A recent study reported that nearly 75 percent of mothers with children between the ages of 5 and 17 were either working or actively looking for work, and among those with jobs, 77 percent of them were full-time employees. With these figures rising every single day, quality child care today has almost become a necessity rather than being considered a luxury as before.
Quality child care can help offer working parents both social as well as economic benefits. In fact, research has proven that children, specifically ages ranging from 6 months to 4 years, involved in early learning are more likely to be successful than those not presented with the opportunity. Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits:
Economic & Career Growth
With the lessened anxiety of having to rush back home due to the knowledge that your child is in great hands, parents can now take on additional responsibilities at work – be it a business trip that has been put off for ages, or the participation in after-work social activities. This could aid in getting these working parents the recognition they deserve and set them on the accelerated path for career growth potentially increasing their economic standing.
Increased Social Capital
With day-to-day chores & activities taking up the majority of our time, we may seldom have the opportunity to interact with other parents. The exercise of dropping off our kids at child care enables us to meet other working parents in the process helping build a network of new “parent” friends to share your experiences with. A study conducted by The University of Chicago determined that even a few moments that parents spend in sharing experiences led to long term benefits including gaining social capital and a feeling of belonging and community.
Success for the Future
While the decision to select a care facility for your child might be a huge step for parents trying to do everything on their own, the benefit is a step only for the better. Having quality child care where your little ones are supported and engaged provides the foundation required for increased cognitive thinking that is a requisite to succeed in today’s education system.
At Tree House Academy, we develop, evaluate and surround your child with programs that foster their social and intellectual growth. While nurturing your child’s capacity for critical thinking, we also strive to strengthen his/her commitment to values such as kindness, apathy and respect for others.
To learn more about us or if you’d like to schedule a tour of your local Tree House Academy, kindly fill out this form and a representative will contact you shortly.
