Amber McLain

Nkenna Onwuzuruoha
English 1010
30 April 2016

Letter of Transmittal
When the semester began, I came into this with very little writing experience over the last 10
years. As a perfectionist, writing has always been difficult for me. Throughout this class, I have grown
and developed my abilities and gained confidence. I am no longer plagued with anxiety at the idea of
others reading my work. The concepts I've learned will help me throughout my academic career, and I am
grateful that I started with this class.
Unit One: Narrative
This was a great assignment for the beginning of the semester for me. I started out nervous, and
unsure if I was able to complete it. Reading the article on Shitty Rough Drafts helped set the tone for me
going forward. I learned that everyone has struggles. You simply push through, and know that it will get
there. The intended audience for this piece was fairly broad. I chose to write a play from the view of a
young child, with a humorous tone. It was directed towards parents, children, and anyone who enjoyed a
cute story. I was hoping to give a small view into the world of a child, and allow us a brief moment to
experience life through their eyes. The smallest, most mundane things are a huge deal to them.
Sometimes, as adults, we tend to forget that.
During the brainstorming process, I had it in my mind that my story was going to take place
throughout a full day. I quickly learned that due to the length of the assignment, it was better to focus on a
much smaller timeframe. My first draft of this narrative was a basic play. It had the interactions between
the characters, and the overall story that I wished to portray. It lacked a visual, the sensory details that
bring the story to life. The feedback that I received from my peers brought this to light, as did my session
in the lab that week. My story had both a narrator and scenic descriptions that really brought my story to
life.

Unit Two: Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical analysis was a new concept for me, I learned a lot during this unit. It was difficult to
focus on the paper I was writing about, not the overall subject. I am now able to identify who the target
audience is for a piece of writing, as well as locate the intent of the author. My paper was written about
The Case For Profanity in Print. The intended audience is the upper middle class, a successful business
person who typically reads The New York Times. The purpose of this piece was to analyze and review this
article for its usage of logos, pathos, and ethos, and discuss its effectiveness. The author had been
extremely effective, concentrating primarily on ethos by providing an exorbitant amount of examples to
support his argument.
My first draft was written in chronological order with the article. I focused on different elements
in the same order that they took place, which caused it to seem very scattered. My thesis statement was
also based on the subject, not the article itself. After a lab session, I made adjustments to the format and
compiled logos, pathos, and ethos together. By changing the focus to be on each element, it helped make
the paper feel less jumbled.
Unit Three: Research Project
This assignment was by far the most challenging, yet interesting, assignment that we have
completed this semester. I discovered that as I conducted research and began my paper, that things would
evolve and my focus shifted several times throughout the project. The largest help with this was learning
about credible sources, and our source's sources. It was fascinating to move from one to another, finding
better and better information for my paper. My audience was my fellow parents, parents to be, and
possibly even the teachers of our children. This paper was to give them each more information on daycare
centers and their overall effects. As parents, child care options are a huge concern that we would all be
grateful to know more about.
The largest and most difficult change that I made was removing and replacing a source that I had
started with. When I began, I could not imagine that a source I used would become irrelevant. I felt that if
it was a source I selected from the start, it would not need to be removed unless I changed my issue. This
was an incorrect assumption. As I neared the end of my research process, one particular source did not
seem to fit with the rest of my project. It was not a difficult decision in the end, I was able to find
something more suitable and was satisfied with the end results.

I have grown significantly throughout this class. My confidence levels have increased, which has
also decreased the amount of time I have to spend getting started. I am no longer sitting at my computer,
wondering where I should even begin. I have written stories in the past, but have now learned how to add
the sensory details that paint the picture for you. Not only am I able to read an article, but I can now
identify what the author was aiming for and if they were able to make their point effectively. Research is
easier than ever, now that I am able to identify credible sources that validate my argument better than
others. I can now cite sources to back up the research that I have conducted. This has been an amazing
learning experience for me, and these skills will be something that I can utilize for years to come.

The Day That He Came - Fiction (A Play)

(A large living room littered with stuffed animals and other random children's toys. It is an early Friday
evening in December, the windows are dark. In the background, an empty couch and gently used leather
recliner can be seen. A light shines from the doorway spotlighting Anna, a very small child. She sits in the
center, smiling to herself as she is surrounded by her playthings.)
Narrator: It started like any other evening. Anna spends most of her time playing, and does not mind
doing so alone. Her blonde curls hang around her face as she leans over her favorite pink kitty. The only
sound heard is her gentle humming as she sways back and forth, clinging to it.
(Enter Nikki, an elementary aged child. She has long blonde hair, and the same smile as Anna. She's
carrying a handful of her sister's books. She plops down behind Anna, and gestures for her to sit. Anna
quickly runs and leaps into her lap.)
ANNA : Book! Book!
Narrator: Anna loves story time with her sister, and cuddles up for a good book. Nikki steals a glance at
the front door, her forehead wrinkled with thought. She knew her parents were busy, as they were most
nights, and that her big sister would be watching her. Nikki flips open the first page, and Anna squeals
with delight. Suddenly, a loud noise vibrates through the room. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
(Anna jumps out of her sister's lap. Her heart pounding like a drum in her chest.)
ANNA: What's that?!
NIKKI: Don't worry, baby. Daddy will get that. Just read your book.
ANNA: NO! It's a rawr! It's a GRRRR! I'm 'fraid.
NIKKI: There is no reason to be afraid, Anna. You knew they were coming. Daddy warned us
this time.
(Nikki grabs at Anna's hand, but she yanks it away. She beings pacing in quick circles around the room.)
Narrator: Anna's eyes are wide with fear, her cheeks flushed bright red. Tears begin streaming down her
face as she searches frantically for her father. He was her rock, her hero. No one was tougher than Dad.
She could not understand why he was not here when she needed him.
ANNA: Daddy! Help!
(Nikki wraps her arms around her small sister, and whispers in her ear. Anna pushes her away, and drops
to her knees.)
Narrator: Anna began to fear that her parents were never going to save her. She knew who was out there,
it was not the first time he had come. Her eyes scan the room for a brief moment, filled with a glimmer of
hope that a grown up will appear. They always did, so they had to this time. They just had to.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

NIKKI: Anna, I promise that everything is going to be okay. I will always be here to take care of
you. You know that I love you.
Narrator: Anna stares up at her sister's thin frame and bright smile. Although Nikki is much bigger than
her, she was not convinced. She knows that there is nothing her sister could do to help her. The man at the
door towered over them both. They were children, and the adults were nowhere in sight. It seemed as
though no one would help them now.
ANNA: Where is mommy? Where is daddy? I want them! I want them right now!
(Anna runs to the window. She takes a deep breath, and gently peels the deep red curtains apart. She
closes one eye, and peeks out into the darkness.)
Narrator: There he stood, long greasy hair resting on his black coat. He was crouched over the doorknob,
his back heaving as he breathed. She shrieked and hit the floor, her fear filling the room like thick smoke.
Nikki stifled a laugh as she rolled her eyes. Anna took little notice of her sister's reactions. Anna knew
that no one seemed to understand her.
ANNA: He's here, Nikki!
NIKKI: Anna, just stay calm. Daddy will handle everything. Please sit down.
(Footsteps are heard from the distance. Dad appears, looking flustered as he walks past both girls on the
floor. Anna desperately reaches for him as he passes, but he does not acknowledge them. Their mother's
soft laughter can be heard from the hallway.)
Narrator: Anna considers going to her mother, but is easily distracted by the current situation. She just
can't believe that he's going to do it. Why is no one else upset by this? Dad Is peering out the peephole,
his hand reaching for the lock. She has to stop him, but she doesn't know how. If they do not open the
door, they would all be safe.
(Anna scrambles forward, landing directly behind him. She stretches her short arms and grips his pant
leg. He glances down at her with a small frown.)
ANNA: Daddy, no! I'm scared! Don't open the door! He is out there again!
DAD: Nikki, I thought you could handle this. Next time, you need to be honest and just say so.
You know it doesn't help anyone to let her get this emotional.
NIKKI: I'm sorry, I tried to keep her quiet. She just would not listen.
(Dad swings the front door wide open. There stands a tall scraggly man with a long grey beard, holding a
large red and white box. He looks down at Anna, his eyes black as coal, and smiles wide. Through puffy
red eyes, she sees his pale yellow teeth.)
Narrator: The pleasantly tangy smell radiating from the box caught her attention for a brief moment. As
her stomach growled it's approval, Anna briefly hesitated. Although this man terrified her more than
anything, something about what he brought was intriguing. Looking into her face, you could see the
internal struggle.

STRANGER: Hello there, little one. I've got something special for you today.
ANNA: NO! NO! Not you! Stop!
(Anna let out a piercing scream as she flees the room, with Nikki close behind. Her small feet thud gently
on the carpet as she runs away. The strange man hands the box off to Dad, his laugh echoing through the
room.)
STRANGER: Still afraid of me, I see?
DAD: Apparently so. Considering this is the second time this week that you've come, you'd think
she'd get used to you by now.
STRANGER: In my line of work, I see this all the time.
DAD: Maybe when she's a little bit older, she'll understand and will no longer be afraid. Until
then, I suppose we'll just have to deal with it.
Narrator: As Dad hands the stranger a small piece of paper, Anna is peering around the corner. She
begins to fear for her dad. The man's gritty appearance was intimidating, but her concern overwhelms her
and forces her to run forward.
ANNA: Daddy! I help you!
(Dad scoops her up quickly, and laughs loudly with the strange man. Mommy appears behind her dad's
back, her smile radiating as she snatched Anna from his arms.)
Narrator: Anna's brows crumple in frustration. No one was listening to her concerns. She stares into her
mommy's light blue eyes. Mommy's presence calms her, as it usually does. As she starts toward the
kitchen, Anna watches Dad closely. It's a good thing he is so tough, she's sure he can handle himself.
DAD: Cheese this time, right? You know the little one doesn't eat anything but Cheese.
STRANGER: Of course. I threw in a side of bread. Hopefully it'll help the kid warm up to me a
bit.
DAD: Well, thanks for the pizza. Have a great night.
(Dad closes the door softly, and shakes his head. He walks across the living room and enters a large
kitchen. Mommy, Anna and Nikki are seated at the round oak table. He seats himself with his family. He
sets the box in the center, and pops it open.)
Narrator: Anna steals a glance at the contents of the box. The remnants of her worries immediately
evaporate, as if the man had never been. Her only concern is why this food did not have those little round
toppings she was so fond of.
*END SCENE*

The Case For Profanity in Print: Second Draft

The article was written by Jesse Sheidlower, an author and editor who specialized in English. He
is also a lexicographer. In 1995, he wrote and published a book titled The F Word. This article was
published in the New York Times on March 31st, 2014. The New York Times is geared towards a more
sophisticated, well-educated audience. The author was writing this towards those that had been reading
newspapers for generations, particularly older middle class folks, who are comfortable with the policies
on profanity. It is also specifically for those readers located in the United States, as this is the location of
the media outlet that published this particular article.
In The Case for Profanity in Print, the author makes an extremely detailed and effective argument
that obscene words should not be avoided in the media, and in some instances may even be necessary,
through the use of logos, pathos, and ethos. He provides an almost excessive number of examples, with a
humorous tone, to emphasize the need to adjust the policies on profanity among news outlets.
Jesse relies heavily on logos by providing an almost exorbitant amount of examples of points in
the media that an obscene word were necessary in order to report the news story. At the beginning, he
starts recounting a situation with an inappropriate comment made by the Assistant Secretary of State. He
provides a list of the news outlets that did report the specifics of the story, each located in the United
Kingdom, which supports his idea that printing an obscenity does not diminish the publisher. Next, he
points out several based within the United States that published the same story, without the expletive.
Jesse includes a list of times that the use of offensive language is the actual news story. He uses this
situation to further cement the need to adjust the usage of profanity. By omitting the details, he claims all
they are telling the reader is that something happened, but are not able to tell them what it was.
The author makes a point that news organizations do have a precedent in place for this. He quotes
a New York Times style guide that stated readers should not be left uninformed or baffled about the
nature of a significant controversy", as well as the stance of The Associated Press who warns against the
use of obscenities, but says they can be printed if there is a compelling reason to do so and if they are a
part of direct quotations. By including these quotes, Jesse reasons that the media recognizes the need for
allowance, but rarely allow for it. He appeals to logos by claiming that they need to report honestly,
including possibly obscene words, or essentially lose readers to competitors.
He includes details of other times that a profanity may be necessary, like when it is in the title of
something that is being reviewed. He concedes to the fact that certain words deemed to be insulting,
specifically towards any group of people, need to be handled with care. He specifies that this does not
mean concealing anything, and that printing a derogatory term is not the same as using it. Jesse then
presents us with two scenarios, both involving racist terminology. He appeals to logos by pointing out that
the omission of a word in the obituary of a former governor diluted the win that he had when he overcame
a heckler during his campaign.
Pathos is presented throughout the article, with the main focus being on humor. Right from the
beginning, he avoids the usage of any obscene words himself, leaving the reader hanging. This is to cause
curiosity, encouraging the reader to continue. He goes on to explain that when they use these euphemisms
to replace profanity, it is forcing us all into wink-wink-nudge-nudge territory. This small jab at the
current situation, used to give the reader a laugh, to loosen them up at the idea he is presenting. At one

point, he admits that taste is worth considering while reporting, and goes into a metaphor about
sprinkling salty words to spice up the content.
However, the tone changes when he states that readers are actually being deprived of precisely
what these news articles are supposed to provide; news and information. This adjustment is meant to
anger the reader, to push their desire to be given full disclosure on all stories. At another point in the
article, he discusses a publishing about fraternities and a variety of sexual torture. This also appeals to
pathos, meant to anger the reader that in such a serious situation, the writer had to tip-toe this issue.
Towards the end, he mentions that there have been certain instances in the past that a small number of
American media outlets have reached outside the norm, and uses pathos by poking fun at those that have
not, by quoting The Economist: If you do use swear words, spell them out in full, without asterisks or
other coynesses.
He begins establishing ethos with the reader early on in the essay, by stating that even he is
having to be unclear in his examples while writing this article. It brings to the forefront of their mind that
he, too, is a writer who deals with this frequently. Simply by writing the article for the New York Times,
he demonstrates that he has experience in the news. It gives the reader confidence in his experience and
knowledge of the current policies. The author instills his familiarity with the issue by providing the large
number of examples he has on times that profanity was avoided. It shows that he has researched this
subject deeply. At the end of the article, he included the detail of being the author of The F-Word. That
small details solidifies his creditability, proving he has written on the topic of curse words previously.
Jesse states that peoples opinions on offensive language have adjusted in the past few decades,
and we are all becoming more comfortable with it. However, all outlets of the media have had an
unwritten understanding on how they would approach the use of obscenities. Typically, it will be to
replace certain words with code words, or simply replacing a few letters with symbols. He claims that all
of the secrecy leaves the readers of these publications confused on the details of the stories. My
conclusion is that he makes a compelling argument for the changes that he wants to see in the media. He
provides clear examples, although perhaps some may feel that it is a few too many, to support his ideas.
By giving an almost overwhelming number of examples, his intent is to make it hard to disagree with his
point. Overall, I believe that this may open a few minds to adjusting the way those in media handle
profanity.

Amber McLain
Nkenna Onwuzuruoha
English 1010
1 April 2016
Who's Going To Watch The Kids?
An Annotated Bibliography Examining Child Care Effects
I have selected to research the question: What are the advantages and disadvantages for children
who attend a daycare center over remaining at home with a parent? This is an issue that all
parents must address at some point. Some families have an opportunity to consider what is best
for their family, others have the choice made for them and live with the consequences. During my
research, I have found that there are a number of developmental effects of a child attending a day
care center, some positive and some negative. Most of the positive stems from the higher quality
child care. I learned that there are a number of things to consider before selecting one, but the
largest deciding factor is the financial aspect.
CUNY Graduate Center. "FIRST COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL STUDY FINDS CENTERS
SAFEST FORM OF CHILDCARE." CUNY Newswire. The City University of New York, 1
Nov. 2005. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
http://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2005/11/01/first-comprehensive-national-study-finds-centerssafest-form-of-childcare/
While this does not report a specific author on this article, it is based around a study completed by
sociologists Julia Wrigley and Joanna Dreby of the City University of New York Graduate Center.
The study reviewed fatality reports from 1985 to 2003 to determine the safest child care
arrangements. "Infants are by far the most vulnerable children in care. Their fatality rate from
both accidents and violence is nearly seven times higher than that of children from one to four.
Equally striking are differences in infant fatality rates across types of care. The infant fatality rate
in the care of nannies or family day care providers is more than seven times higher than that in
centers." It was proven that day care centers are the safest option.
Centers have many layers of protection due to the number of employees. They have more than
one person available to take care of an issue with a child, which helps control any emotional
issues due to a fussy infant. It also helps them weed out any unsafe or erratic caregivers. Child
care centers may also have security measures in place regarding outsiders who attempt to enter
their facility. These steps help to prevent accidental deaths. "Not a single shaken baby fatality was
found in a child care center, while 203 were reported in arrangements in private homes." Those in
a center are given special training on how to cope with an unhappy infant, and have a support
system in place.

I agree with the points that were made in this article. It addresses a concern of parents and puts
their mind at ease, as well as supports my stance that day care centers are a positive choice. By
showing statistics of injuries of those children who are taken care of in a home environment and
comparing them shows that this is based on extensive research. This differs from the advantages
included in the other sources, but encourages the use of a day care center.
DeSilver, Drew. "Rising Cost of Child Care May Help Explain Recent Increase in Stay-at-home
Moms." PewResearch.Org. Pew Research Center, 08 Apr. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/08/rising-cost-of-child-care-may-help-explainincrease-in-stay-at-home-moms/
One of the major reasons that parents choose to avoid daycare is the overall cost, and more
parents are choosing to stay at home. The cost of childcare is only rising, and mothers are paying
more than ever. DeSilver pulls data from the Census Bureau, providing statistical information that
backs his statements. The data shows that the average weekly cost rose from 6.3% of the family's
income in 1986 to 7.2% in 2010. That is more than a 70% increase. For a household with multiple
children under the age of 5, the cost may outweigh the income that a parent is able to bring in.
There are other factors to consider when reviewing the cost of childcare. The age of the children,
how many attend the daycare, and the type of facility. But the cost can also hit different income
levels, as well. "In 2011, for instance, families with employed mothers whose monthly income
was $4,500 or more paid an average of $163 a week for child care, representing 6.7% of their
family income. Families with monthly incomes of less than $1,500 paid much less $97 a week
on average but that represented 39.6% of their family income." Similar to other research
conducted, this shows that those in a lower income bracket will be at a disadvantage, and may not
have the choice between daycare and remaining at home. The price of daycare will shadow any
possible positive effects that the parents may consider.
Drew DeSilver is a senior writer for the Pew Research Center, with a history at the Seattle Times
for over 13 years, showing his ability to conduct research. This article had information provided
by the Census Bureau, which is a reputable source. It is apparent that the cost of child care has
only increased, and I agree that it is the largest reason that parents are remaining at home.
Finances will be the largest effect on the family unit as a whole, in either direction, and will be
the first thing that the parents will have to consider. As with other sources, this article points to
low income families and how the effects are stronger than with the upper class families. DeSilver
does not appear to be on one side of the issue or another, rather he is providing information on
why more parents are electing to remain at home.
Erickson, Jenet Jacob. "The Effects of Day Care on the Social-Emotional Development of
Children." Familyfacts.org. The Heritage Foundation, Apr. 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
http://www.familyfacts.org/briefs/43/the-effects-of-day-care-on-the-social-emotionaldevelopment-of-children

Jenet focuses on the negative aspects in her report, stating that more time spent in daycare during
the children's early years cause behavioral issues, poor mood, conflict, and aggression. While this
is mentioned in other sources, Erickson takes it further to shift on the side against daycare
centers. She states the overall lack of social proficiency is present into adolescence. She also
mentions that from an academic standpoint, children in daycare grow to have poor work habits.
This is a larger problem when children enter daycare at a younger age, before the age of one, and
continue through the early years. The stance of this article is that the poor effects from attending
daycare far outweigh any positives from the parenting done when the child is at home.
Another downside of daycare that Erickson includes is the mother's sensitivity is lacking with her
child. This is the ability to perceive the meaning behind her infant's behavioral signals, and to
respond to them promptly and appropriately. It is a huge factor in development, and when it is
low, it can cause the child to feel insecure about their attachment with their mother. This side
effect can happen regardless of the quality of the daycare center. Insecurity with their mother can
cause depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal.
This article gives great perspective on the adverse effects of daycare. While it is a common theme
among researchers, Erickson goes further to state that these are an important focus when deciding
on child care arrangements. Jenet Jacob Erickson teaches in the School of Family Life at Brigham
Young University, which shows this is within her field. The original report is based on a 30 year
research study evaluating the effects of non-maternal child care (day care) on childrens socialemotional development. It was initiated by the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, and began in the early 1990s. The report itself is extremely thorough. It references
things like John Bowlby's theory that children deprived of maternal care lack feelings, and could
not develop real relationships. It is one of the most credible sources.
Lewin, Tamar. "3 New Studies Assess Effects of Child Care." The New York Times. The New
York Times, 1 Nov. 2005. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/01/us/3-new-studies-assess-effects-of-child-care.html?_r=1
Tamar Lewin writes that long hours in child care give children an advantage in reading and math
skills, but decreases their social skills and can lead to additional behavioral issues. She mentions a
study that found 4 year olds that were in daycare for more than 30 hours a week did not listen,
and were troublesome. However, looking at the same children in 3 rd grade showed a continued
acceleration in math and reading, as well as poor social skills, the aggressive behavior had
dissolved.
The effects were small, Lewin states, compared to those of the parenting. They make a valid point
that in the grand scheme of things, with a large number of students attending daycare, it will add
up. Lewin points out that an increase in behavioral problems with multiple students can take
valuable time away from the teacher when they attend school. The teacher will be more focused
on correcting misbehavior, rather than their subject. Another study is mentioned, reporting that
the earlier a child begins attending daycare, the worse their social skills will develop. Lastly,
Lewin quotes another source regarding the safety advantages of a daycare. Having someone in

the home taking care of an infant, there are reports of shaken baby syndrome when the caregiver
becomes overwhelmed, and the child will not stop crying. Between 1989 and 2003, there were
203 shaken baby deaths while in care at their own home, and none at a center.
This article was an excellent source of both the advantages and disadvantages of a daycare center,
which lined well with the observations in a few other sources. Tamar Lewin is a writer for the
New York Times, and quotes several credible sources throughout the article. However, it does not
cite those sources, which made it more difficult to trust what she had to say. I feel that while it
addresses one part of the issue, it did not mention comparisons between those who attend daycare
and those who do not. It does introduce an unexpected stakeholder into the issue, which is the
future teachers of these children.
Mann, Denise. "Day Care Babies: More Infections Now, Fewer Later." CNN. Cable News
Network, 06 Dec. 2010. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/06/daycare.kids/
Mann writes about something that most parents do not initially consider a benefit; their children
getting sick at an earlier age. Children who attend a day care with a large group before 2 get
more ear and respiratory infections than those at home, but are less likely to do so when they
begin school. They claim by starting earlier, it begins building their immune systems earlier. This
may not have the same effect when the child enters at an older age. "There may exist a window of
opportunity for toddlers to build up their immunity early. Those who attended large day-care
centers after age 2 did not receive the same protection against illness during their elementary
school years as their counterparts who started group day care at younger ages, the new study
showed." There are no results that show the effects when a toddler enters a day care center in this
study.
This article includes a brief mention of a study that was conducted, but did not cite the study.
Mann did interview two different doctors, as well as a parent that has discussed this issue with her
pediatrician. This was written by Denise Mann, a freelance health writer for Health.com, as well
as regularly appearing in WebMD, Healthday.com, Beautyinthebag.com and other consumer
health portals. Her experience in the health industry give you confidence in the article. This is an
interesting advantage that most parents would not consider, and I agree that it is a positive effect
in the long run prior to the children attending school. It is a fresh perspective, that was not
addressed in the rest of my research.
McLain, Amber L. "Child Care Survey." SurveyMonkey. N.p., 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 21
Apr. 2016.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PBYZCKM
During my research, I wanted to get the opinion on the deciding factor for your everyday mom
when it comes to child care. To do this, I conducted a survey through a social media group
formed by mothers across the United States and Canada. In the 100 responses I received, I was

able to get valuable information that opened my eyes to a few considerations on this issue. 63%
of the mothers were between 25 34, next was 35 44 at 19% and 18 24 at 13%. Out of those
surveyed, 46% had only one child, and 36% had two children. Surprisingly, even with most
having few children, only 30% utilize a daycare center. 52% stated their children remained at
home with a parent, and 18% claimed to have other arrangements.
I was more interested to find out the responses in the final question, which asked what was the
determining factor in your child care arrangements. There were a few common themes that stood
out on both sides. The mothers who elected to stay at home, or made other arrangements, had
similar responses. I was not surprised to find that the most common reason they did not select a
daycare center was the cost. "And the cost of child care where I live (Ca) is so expensive, I would
basically have been working just to pay for childcare." Out of 100, 33 responses specifically
mention the expense as their reasoning. "Childcare costs as much as I make in a month so we
decided I would stay home with the baby. Another factor are horror stories about Childcare
providers abusing children so until our little one can talk he won't be in anyone else's care."
Others had additional concerns with leaving your child with a stranger instead of a parent or
family member. A small number mentioned that their local daycare centers do not have
availability, therefore the family had to hire an in-home babysitter/nanny. This was an
unexpected result, I would be interested to find out if all the local centers were full, or only ones
they had determined were suitable. However, most of them simply want to be the one spending
time with their children during the early years and being a part of their development.
The mothers who chose a daycare center had a varying number of reasons for doing so. The most
common on this end seemed to be the need to return to work. Since it was a short survey, they did
not provide details on if it was financial for all of them, or simply the personal need to work. A
few did state that it was their desire to return. Some choose daycare due to lack of other options.
They have no family nearby, or would chose that route instead. There were some that bring them
for the benefits of a daycare center, who like the structure and socialization aspect of it. A few
mentioned the safety aspect, knowing that there are more regulations in place than at a home
facility.
After careful review, these results show that the number one reason these mothers chose what
they do based on the financial effects on their family. Children go to daycare out of necessity, to
increase the family income, or do not attend because of the high cost. Most of the mothers stay
home out of choice, and want to be a large part of their children's lives. They appear to be aware
of some of the disadvantages of a daycare center, while few mention the benefits of them. It was
no surprise that the majority made their decisions based on the financial aspect, with little ability
to consider the other aspects of daycare centers.
Miller, Claire Cain. "Mounting Evidence of Advantages for Children of Working Mothers."
The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 May 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/upshot/mounting-evidence-of-some-advantages-forchildren-of-working-mothers.html?_r=0

Claire Cain Miller is a writer for the New York Times and covers gender work, as well as family
life. She addresses that there are economic, educational, and social benefits for children when
their mother works. A study was conducted of 50,000 adults that showed daughters of mothers
who got a higher education would become more successful and obtain a higher income. They
would earn 23% more than daughters of a stay-at-home mother. It did not have the same effect on
the sons, although they did spend more time on chores and child care. They were also more likely
to have a wife that worked. The writer does point out that some researchers are not confident that
the mothers working is the deciding factor in these statistics.
A meta-analysis published by American Psychological Association reviewed 69 studies over 50
years. "In general, children whose mothers worked when they were young had no major learning,
behavior or social problems, and tended to be high achievers in school and have less depression
and anxiety." These positive effects were more evident in children in households with low
income, or one parent. This also has an effect on their behavior, as well, by becoming a role
model. The attitudes of the parents are a direct influence on that of the children regarding their
work ethic.
Miller mentions a particular study to quote statistics at one point in her article, but does not
provide any information on the study at all. "In a new study of 50,000 adults in 25 countries,
daughters of working mothers completed more years of education, were more likely to be
employed and in supervisory roles and earned higher incomes." This is a different perspective on
the effects of daycare from what I have seen at this point; however, without information on where
she pulled these details, it is hard to put much credibility behind them. The remaining arguments
are backed by credible sources, that are linked directly in the article. I agree that our children's
attitude are a result of our own, but I do not think that daycare and having a working mother are
necessary.
Sethi, Meera Lee. "How Childcare Boosts Social Capital." Greater Good. University of
California, Berkley, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_childcare_boosts_social_capital/
Meera Lee Sethi is a Chicago-based writer and a contributing editor for Utata.org. She moves to a
different perspective in this article, showing how a child attending a day care center effects the
parents socially. This article claims that while dropping their child off, mothers gain huge
advantages while making small talk and forming relationships with other parents. "In a
provocative line of research, Small has found that mothers using childcare reap social,
psychological, and even financial rewards; these rewards are especially pronounced for lowincome mothers. Even when mothers make few friends through a childcare center, they still
benefit from the resources they find there." During the few short minutes that they spend there,
make a larger difference than most realize. Parents are building what researchers call social
capital, and by doing so lessen the likelihood of depression.
The author claims that although the parents spend little time together outside of the center, that
they form a special bond due to the nature of their relationship. They feel more comfortable

knowing others who trusting the same network of people to watch their children. The parents
even benefit from feeling a connection to the center itself.
While this article has no citations, and little information on it's sources, I found the research
interesting. It relates to an advantage for the parent of the child, more than the child themselves. I
do not necessarily agree with the friendship aspect with the other parents, since I myself have not
experienced this. However, I do feel a connection with those that work at the center with my
child. I understand that others may have more of an opportunity to socialize with the other
parents, and that a kindship like that can be beneficial.
There are strong opinions on both sides of this topic. I feel there are still unanswered questions
with specific comparisons between the children in daycare and those at home. Is there data
showing what the normal range is for behavioral issues, and the differences with children in
daycare versus those at home? At this point, I do not feel that the negative effects are enough of
an issue to avoid daycare altogether. As long as it is high quality care, the social aspect will be
minimal compared to the benefits of entering a structured setting at an early age. The decision
will continue to be up to what works best for the family, as there will always be varying factors.