If you need to arrange for child care for your toddler so you can work out of your home or go to school, you may want to choose a daycare center. In addition to providing quality care for your child, a daycare center helps prepare your child for preschool and kindergarten, even if there's no formal learning involved. Here are some benefits of sending your toddler to daycare.

1. Your Child Learns To Make Friends

Some kids make friends easily, and others struggle. If your child isn't around other kids too often, then being in a group setting can help them learn to make friends. Your child may enjoy having friends they can play with every day, and more importantly, they may find it much easier to fit in and make new friends when your child starts kindergarten.

2. Your Child Learns To Follow Instructions

Since several toddlers are in a group setting, everyone has to follow rules. If your child is a natural rule breaker, they could probably benefit from structured child care that has rules to follow. Learning to follow instructions at a young age could make it easier for your child to fit in when they start kindergarten. Plus, they learn skills such as sharing, picking up after themselves, being quiet, and sitting still according to their age and ability.

3. Your Child Has Mental Stimulation

If you bring a babysitter to your home, your child might spend too much time playing video games or watching cartoons. At daycare, your child is kept mentally stimulated, and that can help with their development and make it easier to grasp concepts, read, and do basic math once they're in kindergarten.

There are different types of programs for toddlers. You might want one that emphasizes early education and that preps your child for school. You might prefer a program that lets your child play all day in creative ways so they learn in a non-regimented way.

Compare daycare centers and the programs they have established for toddlers rather than just choosing the closest facility to you. That way, both you and your child will grow and benefit from the years spent in daycare.

4. Your Child Gets To Do Fun Things

You might feel guilty that you have to work all day, and your child misses out on doing fun things with you instead. However, your child will probably have lots of fun activities to do at a daycare center. The facility may have a playground, and they may go on field trips occasionally. Entertainers may come to the facility so the kids can watch puppet shows or do other fun things.

Child care experts know the early learning years are important, but they also know one of the most important aspects of childhood is that your child has fun. The staff can help your child adjust to their new fun routine so your child doesn't mind being away from you all day.