Kinds of substitute child care

Kinds of substitute child care

Substitute child care is provided by the following:

Older siblings

Relatives/neighbours

Hired help

Creche/day care centres

Pre-nursery/nursery schooI/Balwadi.

You will now study about the effectiveness of each of these parent substitute care facilities.

Sibling Care is very common among families in low income group. Infants and children are left under the care of a slightly older child. You might find a 6 years old child looking after two to three smaller siblings. How effective or safe can this child care be? Not very effective, because a six years old is not equipped with skills required for the usual child rearing. Slightly older children are not mature enough to care for the young ones. Hence it might be a better idea to find an alternative yet safe substitute child care centre.

Relations and Neighbours can and do play important role in the upbringing of small children in the home itself. Presence of elders in a family with small children is a big boon. Grand parents in a family provide very loving and safe child care.

Neighbours can be a family away from your own family. In the absence of suitable mother substitute, neighbours can provide the much needed substitute child care. This sort of child care is generally of a short duration. In case the neighbour has time and is willing to provide support on a regular basis it would be advisable to speak frankly with the neighbour. After discussion you should arrive at an understanding where by you can provide suitable compensation for the neighbour's help.

Hired Help is a common feature in affluent urban families. One should carefully interview the hired help (Ayah/maid servant) as regards their reliability and experience of being able to provide for all the basic needs of the young one. Have you heard about the importance of police verification before hiring the services of the 'Ayah/maid servant'? Parents should keep a strict vigil on the hired help for the safety of their child.

Creche : Do you know what a creche is? ' It a safe place where small children can be left and looked after while the parent is working.'

Creche is a day care centre. Parents take their children home after the working hours are over. Have you ever visited a creche?

Creches take care of children upto 3 years of age. Here the children are left under the expert care of qualified and responsible staff/adults. Hence the mothers can carry on with their jobs without anxiety as regards their child.