The very words "Child Care" can create a wealth of emotion when the subject is raised. Caring for a child is one of the most important things anyone can do. Taking proper care of a child can mean the difference in development between a well adjusted and mal-adjusted adult. Thousands upon thousands of words have been written on the subject of child care and today child care itself has grown into a huge industry.

Enormous changes have taken place over the last two generations concerning the way in which children are cared for. Years ago the child's mother took sole responsibility for bringing up her child (apart from those children whose parents were wealthy enough to employ a nanny or a governess) whereas nowadays parents both work full time. In today's world, it has become an economic necessity for both parents to work against a background of ever increasing costs plus a lifestyle, which our grandparents could never have begun to imagine. Child care is now extremely big business. Nurseries for babies and toddlers have mushroomed and, in some cases, parents have to put their child's name down to attend a particular nursery soon after the child is born.

All parents think their children are special and they are. However, once a baby or toddler begins to attend nursery or nursery school that child has no choice but to learn and accept that attention from staff has to be shared between all the children. An only child has become used to being the focus of attention at home. It often comes as a considerable shock for an only child to realise the world doesn't revolve round him/her. However, children are far more versatile and resilient than most parents realise and most children soon adapt to a new environment. This forced interaction with other children can in fact, be extremely beneficial, especially for only children. Many of these only children often have to cope, at some stage, with the arrival of brothers or sisters, which frequently creates jealousy on the part of an only child. Having learnt to share attention with others at nursery or nursery school prepares a child to accept a new member of the family far more easily than would have been the case had that child not learnt to interact with children of the same age.

Choosing a suitable nursery usually throws parents into a panic as they consider the implications. How will they recognise which nurseries offer excellent care? Will all the staff be fully trained? What is the percentage of staff to children? Are meals provided? What is the level of cleanliness, both in the nursery and in the kitchens? Is time set aside for babies and toddlers to sleep? How good is security at the nursery? Does bullying occur? What arrangements are in place if a child should become sick? Many parents feel overwhelmed and have no idea where to turn for advice. Nurseries which fulfil all the requirements needed to operate a successful nursery are normally registered with the local community which will be happy to supply details of these nurseries to anxious parents. One of the best ways of deciding upon a suitable nursery is, of course, by recommendation. Mothers whose children already attend nursery are generally are only too happy to advise other mothers which nurseries are particularly good as opposed to those which are merely satisfactory.

Another option for childcare is to employ a nanny who will work at the family home. This option has become something of a minefield due to fairly recent high profile cases in which a nanny has physically harmed a child in her care. Other cases have actually resulted in the death of the baby by the nanny left in charge. It must be emphasised that these cases are very rare indeed and are not representative in any way of the majority of child care undertaken by nannies. A reputable agency supplying nannies has strict rules in place for their selection. References will be required as to the nanny's previous positions and will be scrupulously followed up. If the references are not satisfactory, the nanny will not be recommended for that particular vacancy or any other.

A section of childcare often taken for granted is that of grandparents who are happy to devote countless hours looking after their grandchildren. Grand parents offer one of the very best forms of childcare, simply because of the relationship between them and their grandchildren whom they look on as their own. In addition, this form of childcare usually comes free although some parents give financial payment for the time and effort expended on their children by doting grandparents.

There is no doubt that most babies and toddlers acquire confidence by attending nursery schools. A child who has never spent time away from home finds it tremendously stressful if he/she ever has to cope with the absence of a mother perhaps through hospitalisation. On the other hand, a child who has learnt to adapt to a different environment will not be nearly as traumatised by the absence of a parent and will be able to deal with the separation far more easily.

Obviously, all children attending nursery school have to conform to certain rules, which amount to a form of discipline. It has long been acknowledged that children exposed to discipline welcome the fact that boundaries have been set which makes them feel more secure and, consequently, happier. Some children will always rebel but all children will be faced with some form of discipline as they grow up and will also be expected to comply with rules and regulations in the workplace. Without such rules, anarchy would reign. Quite simply, discipline is based on showing consideration for other people and their possessions.

By attending a good nursery or nursery school offers children the chance to interact with others, acquire confidence and accept some basic rules. Most of these children develop into successful, happy adults.