Child Care: Is It Good or Bad for Children

Copyright ©  2008  Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Today, preschool children often spend much of their time in the care of someone other than their mother or father. In fact, many children are in child care from 9 to 10 hours a day, 5 days a week before they are a year old. For many this continues until they enter kindergarten.

The question for many parents and researchers is whether child care will make today's children different in some way. Is child care good or bad for children?

Although child development experts do not agree on the answer to this question, they do know something about the effects of child care on the development of our children.

Is There a Best Age to Put Your Child in Child Care?

Research on children entering child care tells us that the older the child, the easier it is for them to adjust to out-of-home care. Children between 2-½ and 3 years can benefit from being around the other children in a child care setting. Learning how to get along with others is an important task for children at this age.

Researchers and parents are most concerned about infants and young toddlers. If the infant has already entered the attachment stage (see below) when they are placed in a child care setting, they may be unhappy when they are left with a new caregiver. This can be stressful for both the infant, their parents, and the child care provider.

Remember that children are constantly going through new stages and leaving old ones behind. The person you choose to care for your child will play a big role in your child's growth and development. If you have made a good choice of providers and work with them as partners, chances are your child will adjust to the situation.

What Is Attachment?

Children need to develop a secure relationship with at least one adult in their first year of life. Infants between 6 and 9 months old will begin to develop a preference for one of their caregivers—usually their mother or father. As this happens, children often react to other people with cries and avoidance behavior. This stage is called attachment or bonding. Psychologists believe it is necessary for children to develop a secure, attached relationship with their primary caregiver in order to develop a sense of independence, trust in others, and the ability to form friendships and bonds throughout life.

Will Child Care Affect You and Your Child's Bonding?

Some research with infants indicates that there may be some problems, while other studies show little difference between children reared at home and those who spent the same early years in child care.

You should know that bonding problems are higher when a child is:

• cared for in changing, unstable child care situations;
  
  
• put in child care before their first birthday; or
  
  
• put in child care full-time rather than part-time.
  
  

It is best to wait to place an infant in child care after their first birthday (at least on a full-time basis). If you cannot do this, try to find child care that is stable and consistent, preferably with only one person caring for your child. If that care is good, attachment will develop between your child and their caregiver. You will also want to be sure that you have a warm and nurturing relationship with your child when you are providing care yourself. If these conditions exist, you probably don't need to worry that your child will have difficulty bonding.

Children have different temperaments and will either go through stages easily or with great difficulty. The bonding stage is, however, one of the most important stages and you should try to give the most love and security you possibly can whether or not your child is in child care during this time.

Child Care Centers versus Family Homes

It is important to know your child's personality, health, and social needs in order to choose the best possible child care setting.

A family child care home will offer an environment similar to your home. There will be fewer children and the children will be at different ages and stages. If your child is shy, gets sick a lot, or needs special attention, a licensed family child care home may be the best place. Many parents prefer to put infants into family child care. Family child care is a good option when parents want to have siblings cared for together. As you make your decision, talk with each provider about the specific needs of your child.

A child care center offers care for more children and generally groups them by age. Each group has one or more teachers who provide care. Child care centers offer a variety of programs and will benefit children who enjoy larger groups, need directed activities, and like lots of friends to play with.

As you search for care, keep in mind that the type of care is not as important as the quality of care. Matching the environment with your child's needs is the most important decision.

Will Your Child Get Sick More Often Because of Child Care?

The chances of your child getting more colds, flu, or diarrhea may be higher because of child care. One simple reason for this is the number of children they are around. Centers that care for larger numbers of children and are open over 15 hours a day are more likely to have increased cases of illness. Both centers and family child care homes need to follow good health habits. They should help you teach your child proper hygiene by encouraging hand-washing. Equipment should be regularly cleaned. Also, if centers or family child care homes follow their policies for handling sick children, less illness may be spread to the other children.

Will Your Child Love the Child Care Provider More Than You?

One of the qualities of a good child care provider is the ability to really love and care for your child. If this happens, your child will probably return the affection. A good provider-child attachment is good for your child and will not affect their love for you. If you have been doing a good job of parenting—providing the love, nurturance, physical care, and guidance your child needs when you are together—there is no doubt that you will continue to be the most important person in their life.

University of Minnesota Extension Service
University of Minnesota
College of Human Ecology

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This information is intended to help parents make the best decision about the selection of child care for their family. The University of Minnesota Extension Service does not recommend any particular providers or any specific type of care.

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