I wouldn't send my children to daycare for that reason N2L. The daycare here is just supervised play, the kindergarten is mentally stimulating and the children's interests are nurtured and expanded. But I think kindy in NZ starts a lot earlier than Australia?? Here they go to kindy usually from 3-5 then start school.

So I guess back to the original question, I wouldn't send them to daycare just for social interaction because we have the kiddie groups for that. I sent him to kindy because he needed more stimulation than the was getting at home, the social side was an added (but fantastic) benefit iykwim.