Not a child’s play

Social media this week has been abuzz with the video of a day-care nanny allegedly assaulting a 10-month-old child, causing the child fractures and internal injuries. As the CCTV footage went viral, surprising comments on videos posted on Facebook and Twitter ridiculed the child’s parents instead, talking about how parenting should be a full-time job, how mothers and parents “these days have little to no concern for their own blood compared to money and career.”

However, parents have been quick to point out that this is an isolated case. Amey Asuti, who sends his two-year-old daughter to a creche, scoffs at comments that say that parents shouldn’t rely on day-care centres for their child. “If that’s the case, then parents shouldn’t even send them to school,” he says, cross.

Host of parenting show, The Tara Sharma Show, as well as a mom of seven and five year old boys, Tara Sharma Saluja urges people to avoid generalisation, as it won’t solve the larger issues at hand. “There are several day cares and creches that are doing a great job,” she says, adding that the best way to avoid such incidents is to handle them with professionalism. “At least some day cares are equipped with CCTV surveillance; so many day cares around the city don’t even have that. Many a time, people don’t even know if there is anything going wrong with their children,” she laments.

Disappointed with the thought process of social media users, Simone Pires, who is an expecting mother, adds, “Whenever people say something along the lines of a woman should stay home with her kid, I find it very disheartening. And to be very honest, I think women going to work sets a good example for a girl child to see her mum be a career-oriented lady.”

Pointing at comments that said growing up in joint families have a good effect on infants, she points out that not everyone has family around them, “What about people who don’t have such big families or even families living so close to them?”  

As far as reliability of day care centres today goes, Amey believes that it depends on several factors. “Years ago, people used to send their children to a mom-and-pop day care. Even I went to such a day care. But today, technology and professionalism trumps every factor. Would you not prefer to send your kids to a professional day care?” he questions.

A PR professional, Simone took her maternity leave in October, and it’s due to run out in December, in accordance to her company rules. “I will be taking an additional off for three months to stay at home with my kid,” she says. What next, though?

Simone admits that she’s been sceptical about admitting her child to a day-care centre. “I have my concerns; I’m not completely sure of sending my child to a creche. Mainly because when I used to go to one, there was another girl with me who used to feel hungry very often. So the nanny used to scare and beat her — only because this kid liked to eat a lot!” she exclaims.”