Children in day care are better off than those left at home, according to a new study.
Being sent to a day care environment or being placed in the care of grandparents was said to boost a child’s ability to perform everyday skills and overall social development.
Researchers from the London School of Economics and Oxford University found there was a five per cent negative impact on the everyday and social skills of children who stayed at home with their primary parent.
The research found that children were benefited by the stimulus offered in external environments. Activities such as painting, singing songs, interacting with new children and adults and even using scissors were found to impact them positively.
Children who attended a day care facility were said to experience a 10 per cent positive impact on every day skills. This impact was only boosted by greater amounts of time spent in that environment.
Oxford University researcher Laurence Roope, who co-wrote the paper, told The Telegraph the key to better development lay in greater interactivity.
"It should give parents some reassurance that nurseries are not going to harm their children, and are likely to be beneficial," he said.
"It seems that what is important is engaging in interactive activities."
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Roope also suggested the generally larger income offered by working parents factored into a child's exposure to greater activities.
"It could be there is a trade-off. Going out to work brings in more money for the family, which leads to more financial security and the ability to partake in more activities," he said.
"But it might mean that the bond between parent and child is not as great, particularly if the parent is tired or stressed."
The news should come as happy relief for working parents who struggle with leaving their children in the hands of others.
Top Comments
If studies are repeatedly showing the social and learning benefits of putting kids in childcare, why does it cost so much? Shouldn't we be making it available to all who want it, not only those who can afford it? I wonder how many SAHPs would rather work outside the home, but can't earn enough to make it financially worth their while.
What a ridiculous article. Seems like everyday there is a new "study" into the positive or negative impacts of childcare. Unnecessary pressure on Mums who are ALL just trying to make the right decisions for their families, whether that be to place their kids in childcare or to look after them full time at home. Not to mention the fact that I"m fairly certain the "use of scissors" is not an activity exclusively available to a childcare centew