Coming from communist Romania, I was shocked and disgusted at the conditions of childcare and early childhood education in America. A flat out disgrace.
We can all sit back and wonder why children from other countries are surpassing us in tests across the board -- but I believe it starts with the parents and the foundation set in early childhood education.The problem lies in the lack of knowledge that the parents have about the facilities at which they are leaving their children. If they are unaware of the current sub par standards upheld at the majority of daycare institutions then how can they know what improvements they should be demanding? If no one demands more, more will never be given.
My schools, Le Chaperon Rouge, were a direct result of my own hands-on approach to parenting. In 1982, my son Alex was born. When I had to return to work he was enrolled in a local daycare. I was outraged by the lack of standards. The teachers let him cry all day long and it was apparent that they did not care. I knew there had to be a better alternative and that is when I realized my life's mission was to create one. Their lack of drive was most likely a result of low wages, poor treatment and lack of substantial benefits.
Our main priority should be as parents. I wanted my son to be in a school where he thrived academically, socially and emotionally. I've learned what to demand, by knowing what I would not accept. Every parent needs to be aware that these mediocre standards are not acceptable.
When visiting other day care centers, it's always the same dreadful and shocking story. The children are warehoused in large pod-like rooms with 30 children in one room and no indoor playgrounds. They are kept in that same room all day long without any time to move around and exert some energy.
The management is often abrasive and it trickles down to the teacher's attitudes, which in turn affects the children. The facilities are ill equipped. I have witnessed babies being diaper changed on a cold Formica floor without padding. Shocking!
Most lack commercial kitchens, opting to serve microwavable food, out of convenience, devoid of any vitamins and minerals. I have seen hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fruit cocktail served straight out of a can. Schools are laying down the foundations for life-long poor choices in diet and nutrition. I mean, really, do you want your pre-schooler eating hot dogs and fruit cocktail dripping in thick high fructose syrup? This is where childhood obesity begins.
This is why it is so important for me to push this knowledge and educate the parents on what they need to demand for their children. Parents need to look out for small classrooms, where the children are separated into small groups by age and aptitude. Facilities need commercial kitchens that provide kids with nutritious food and an indoor playground in addition to the outdoor one so that kids can exert the energy that they need to all year long. Demand for the school to abandon high fructose juices and all other processed foods and replace them with real fruit juice and healthy cooked meals.
It is so important to have your children exposed in the early stages of development to the building blocks of learning like letters, numbers, math, science, social studies, dramatic play, music, foreign languages, and fine and gross motor skills. This way, they are ready for the competitive future academically, emotionally, and socially. Now doesn't this sound better than knowing your child was in a classroom with 30 other kids, sitting there eating microwavable food? If parents refuse to accept the current conditions of childcare, these large chains will know that they are doing something wrong and need to fix something.
I know that budget plays an enormous factor in where parents decide to place their children but I do know from experience, that you can properly run a fully functioning school and day care center, have happy teachers and happy children and a well educated child, all for a reasonable price. It is attainable; parents just need to demand this.
National day care centers will not change their protocol without parents demanding higher standards. Don't just send your child anywhere. A child is only given one chance at laying the proper education foundation. Parents need to be involved and vocal about what they will and will not accept. They need to do their homework before enrolling their children in a school.
Making a dent in the childcare and early childhood education in America has the power to change the future of our children, and you can be that start.