Spot the difference

Words matter.

What do these words mean to you?

Babysitting
Child care
Day care
Early Childhood Education

Let's see....to me....(generalising of course...)

Babysitting - low status, short time period, might mean just ensuring the kids don't kill each other, burn the house down or harass the cat. Done by teenagers for pay, or relatives for a favour.

Child care - professional. Looking after your child, ensuring their needs are met. Longer term, longer duration.

Day care - like child care, except has the connotation of being used while you go to work.

Early Childhood Education - ahhhh! All the good stuff. Empowering! Learning! Growth! Development!

I wonder if we as parents feel differently about our choices if we label them differently.