[asldkjaslkdj]

That's a scary prospect considering all the studies and news articles that say that putting your kids in school as early as 4 can result in life-long benefits.

It's hard to be a parent these days, you feel like nothing you do is ever "right".

[war1025]

> putting your kids in school as early as 4 can result in life-long benefits.

Giving a shit about your kids is mainly what results in life-long benefits.

The sad truth is a lot of parents either don't care about their kids or care about them only as a proxy of how it reflects back on them.

[Aeolun]

I find that hard to understand. Isn’t having a kid something you do exactly so you have someone to care for and nurture?

[prawn]

Yes, and for 51% of the time it's all a priceless, privileged joy. And the other 49% is you feeling guilty because you are short of time trying to parent, work, keep and maintain a house; you want to encourage a broader palate or cook once for everyone but they gripe about what you've cooked, antagonise each other, mess up the house in creative new ways, etc.

That's assuming you are an engaged parent and intended to have them.

I imagine school is an effective piece of the puzzle because it offers peers plus dedicated, trained professionals keeping everyone on track without having to also clean the house, take client calls, cook, etc.

Back up the comment chain though, I think in a year like this and at younger ages, you can relax any homeschool attempts. Months ago when quarantine peaked in South Australia, we took our kids out of school and had a very free-form program. Get up late, make bread together, do a bit of gardening, play Lego, building challenges, drawing, screen time, etc. Combo of bumming around at home with practical, learning activities. Fine by the kids and less stress for parents.

[war1025]

> Isn’t having a kid something you do exactly so you have someone to care for and nurture?

Ideally, yes.

In practice, not as often as anyone would hope.

Sometimes out of actual ill intent towards the kids.

Probably most times just due to parents being dealt a raw hand and them not having the wherewithal to give their kids the amount of attention they'd like to.

[s1artibartfast]

About 1/3 of children in the US were unplanned, and I imagine another (but not coincident) 1/3 are unwanted.

[9nGQluzmnq3M]

Citation needed. Most research I've seen says that it's the socialization and free play aspects that are important, not the academic content.