When we stop and think about children who grow up in daycare compared to children raised among their parents until school-age, the greatest difference between these children is their exposure to socialization. Socialization is the process of interacting with others in a community. Little Angels Airdrie daycare understands that it is especially important for young children to be adept in socialization. During the first few years of their lives, children will interact with only a handful of people. In daycare, children will increase their exposure to large groups of diverse individuals quicker than children nurtured full-time by their parents. At this age, children are very impressionable. Socialization plays a major factor in a child’s ability to start developing a personal identity, to experience cognitive growth and to gain control of their emotions. Daycare enhances the process of socialization. Without socialization, children are hindered in their ability to form relationships with other people, talk easily, understand morals and acknowledge what is expected from them as human beings. 

Extensive research was conducted at the Sorbonne University in Paris, where researchers divided more than 1,400 children who varied in ages from birth to that of eight years old. They tracked these children, dividing them into three groups: children in a centre-based daycare, children nurtured by caregivers who look after a maximum of six children, and those raised solely by their parents. When parents were asked to rate their child’s development at different stages, the results were compared. The researchers discovered that kids involved in a centre-based daycare for at least one year were “less likely to have high levels of emotional symptoms, peer relationship problems and hyperactivity/inattention problems.” Dependent on the quality of the daycare, these children also portrayed stronger cognitive skills as well. Dr. Jillian Roberts, founder of Family Sparks and associate professor at the University of Victoria, stated that “The evidence is clear that high quality, early childhood care is beneficial for children…These programs include not only play and socialization, but also educational and nutritional components from highly-trained early childhood education professionals.” 

One of the most influential aspects of socialization for young children is role taking. For children, it takes a little bit of time to look up to an individual and want to aspire to be like them. Thus, role taking is broken up into a process. The first stage, known as the preparatory or imitation stage, begins when a child is around the age of one, mimicking what is occurring around them but not quite understanding what it is they are doing. The play stage takes place during the time that children are able to begin daycare. This is when the child acts like the person they wish to be, for example, a nurse or a firefighter. Being exposed to multiple adults and other children in daycare, a child now has the ability to see who other children wish to be like and are immersed in a more dynamic environment. In this stage, the child begins to understand the values that make a person a role model. Surrounded by a group of people, rather than a few individuals, a child is able to build an identity derived from the good of those around them in diverse outlooks. 

When in daycare, children have the opportunity to communicate with a class of children and multiple caregivers. Children raised at home by their parents may spend time with their friends, but variety lacks. With more people in a room, the opportunity for problem-solving and compromise skills to be taught is embellished. Often, a parent’s routine of nurturing their child brings too much monotony and the child’s routine does not differ in activities. It is through the things occurring around a child that cognitive development takes place. In Little Angels daycare, the growth of a child’s thinking, perceiving, knowing and solving attributes to this development. 

As we all know, children in daycare must learn earlier how to be independent of their parents. Through this, they forge relationships with the caregivers and the students around them to make up for this initial sense of loss. As time goes on and daycare has become a new norm for them, the socialization of daycare will have given your child the skill to trust others and rely on other people when needed. Thus, their emotions are not subjected to a few tethers. 

Little Angels  daycare and preschool works hard to ensure that your child is immersed in a rich nurturing environment. We provide high-quality childcare that ensures your child’s Calgary daycare experience will have a positive effect on their socialization advancement. Little Angels’ daycare experience forms the foundation for the relationships your child will make with peers and other adults. In our facility, the first steps of socialization are taken and expanded upon in ways that only the atmosphere of daycare can provide.