True or false: The care settings most often used for infants and toddlers are day-care centers and schools.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: False
Explanation:
The statement “The care settings most often used for infants and toddlers are day-care centers and schools” is false because it inaccurately includes schools as common care settings for infants and toddlers, which is not typically the case.
1. Age Appropriateness:
- Infants (0–12 months) and toddlers (1–3 years) are too young for school settings, which are generally designed for preschoolers (3–5 years) and older children.
- Schools are primarily academic institutions that begin serving children around pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, usually starting at age 4 or 5.
2. Common Care Settings:
The most commonly used care settings for infants and toddlers include:
- Home-based care (care by parents, family members, or in-home nannies)
- Family child care homes (licensed caregivers who care for small groups of children in their homes)
- Day-care centers or child care centers (formal settings with structured activities and licensed staff trained to work with very young children)
Day-care centers are popular for working parents who need full-day supervision and early stimulation for their children. These centers often serve children from infancy up to preschool age.
3. Why Schools Are Not Common for Infants/Toddlers:
- Schools are not equipped to provide the type of care infants and toddlers need, such as diapering, bottle feeding, or individualized attention for early developmental needs.
- Educational institutions become more appropriate later in childhood when structured learning becomes suitable.
Conclusion:
While day-care centers are indeed commonly used for infant and toddler care, schools are not. Therefore, the inclusion of schools in the statement renders it false. Proper early childhood care emphasizes nurturing environments designed for the unique needs of very young children.