A New Day Care Study
A long-term federal study of children in day care found that the more time kids spent in daycare, the more likely they were to be disruptive and aggressive in elementary school years later.
While some will argue that this is the proverbial smoking gun--proof that day care is harmful for kids--others will point out the ambiguities. First, the study finds that all of the behavior is still within normal range--these kids weren't juvenile delinquents. And even more significant, the study found genes and parenting still have a much bigger impact on how kids turn out than day care.
So what should parents take from this study? In previous interviews I've done with researchers involved in this study, they've said that temperament also seems to play a role in kids' ability to adjust and thrive in day care. This latest finding just underscores the importance of parents paying attention to how their kids are faring in day care. Do they seem happy or stressed? Is there a lot of acting out?
Of course, as a society, though, it points out to the need for us to support parents. Whenever I've interviewed experts involved in this issue, they always say the following:
-Let's the follow the lead of other industrialized nations and provide better maternity and paternity leave policies so that parents will have the option of being able to stay home with their newborn for a few months, without losing their jobs. d
-The U.S. needs to subsidize day care and preschool, just as it has for grade school, so that the quality of childcare is lifted in this country.
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posted by pam at 9:31 AM
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