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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The data just doesn’t support group learning before age 3 or so.  If your goal is to ‘school’ a two year old you would hire a nanny because they are learning from a single caregiver and not from peers.  The peers are only competitors for the caregivers attention.  Any center that is trying to sell you on STEM classes for 2 year olds is ripping you off. They are usually just trying to distract you from the caregiver ratio.

Look for a high caregiver ratio not a curriculum or ‘school’ before age 3/4.  Often an in-home daycare is better in this regard, frankly.

After age 3/4 they do learn from peers so there is definite benefit to a school environment.

Let’s just be honest about the tough choices all parents make and not let an industry try to sell us on non-evidence based nonsense.

https://criticalscience.medium.com/on-the-science-of-daycare-4d1ab4c2efb4#:~:text=Children%20spending%20long%20hours%20in,negative%20effect%20on%20later%20behavior.
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If you actually read the studies cited on this blog post you'll see "the data" is not nearly as definitive as the author makes it sound. Talk to any speech therapist that works with young toddlers and they will tell you many 1 year olds with expressive language delays magically start talking when they are in a group setting. Just because they aren't playing cooperatively yet doesn't mean they aren't learning from each other.[/quote]

NP here. I’m a mom of 3 and my youngest (currently 18 months) is by far my most verbally and socially advanced toddler. I totally credit this to having older siblings + their friends around all the time. She is so aware/interested in what these kids are doing and repeats words/tries to talk to them all the time. When we go to the pool or library story time, she is the outgoing kid walking up to others trying to share toys and waving and saying “hi.” She is currently in a nanny share, but we’re looking to switch to a group setting soon because I absolutely believe she benefits from social interaction and will do great in a setting with structured activities.[/quote]

I agree - although my experience is different - my daughter has been at a childcare center since 4.5 months (now 2)  - but she is so social.  It's clear she has meaningful relationships with the other children. After she left the infant room  (~age 1) when I came breastfeed her during lunch she would circle back and interact with one of the older babies left in the infant room through the door gate.   We once ran into a toddler classmate in the park and the glee they had seeing each other and then playing together (they slid down the double slide together repeatedly) was fun to watch.    When her friend a month younger than her moved up to the toddler room - she "instructed" him on the ropes of circle time according to her teachers.

Now she is a very social kid so I actually think one needs to take the temperament of the child into account - a less social baby/toddler might not thrive so much in a group setting.

I have no issues calling what she goes to "school"  She's learned the ABC song there. The teachers design carefully thought out activities they call "provocations" so the kids explore all sorts of materials, art projects etc.   I do also call it daycare even though I know it's not the preferred term just because it's easier sometimes. :) [/quote]

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