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Non-Parental Childcare Benefits Children


Posted by Scxhooldays Newshound, on 02/11/2016. Non-Parental Childcare Benefits Children

A recent study carried out by the ESRI and Pobal which focussed on 3 and 5 year olds has concluded that children minded by relatives, such as grandparents, or childminders, tend to do better in life than those that are minded by their parents full-time.

Children behaved better when minded by childcarers other than their parents; they experienced fewer emotional problems and developed better social skills with their peers in regards to sharing and being kind to other children.

After taking account of a range of child, parent, family and neighbourhood level characteristics the study found that:

• Children cared for by relatives at age 3 have somewhat fewer socio-emotional difficulties and better social skills at age 5 than those looked after by their parents full-time.

• Children cared for by a non-relative (e.g. a childminder) at age three were rated by both parents and teachers as having fewer socio-emotional difficulties, in particular, fewer emotional and peer problems than children in full-time parental care.

• Centre-based care was found to have a positive effect on teacher-rated socio-emotional development for a number of disadvantaged groups. Centre care is associated with a reduction in total difficulties for children in the lowest social class categories and with an increase in the pro-social scores for children from lone parent households.

Helen Russell,one of the authors of the report, added:

“The research findings provide critical insights into what factors promote children’s socio-emotional development, which is essential not only for their current wellbeing but also for their ability to settle into school and for their longer term educational attainment. We find some evidence to suggest that access to centre-based care provides more beneficial effects for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, but the effects are small and are not sufficient to level the playing field. The quality of care received is likely to be crucial.”

Source: Report: Childcare, Early Education and Socio-Emotional Outcomes at Age 5

Visit our Childcare section if you are thinking about getting a minder for your child or want to send them to a care centre.


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