CHILD CARE: WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US

BACKGROUND

Increasing numbers of children are in child care. Of the approximately 21 million American children under age five in 1995 who were not already in preschool, about 40% were cared for by parents, 31% by child-care centers, 21% by relatives, and 14% by family day-care homes. Since 1965 the percentage of children in child care centers has risen from 6% to 31%.

Many parents prefer center-based care. Survey data suggest that working women prefer centers because of greater parental control, perceived child safety, and dependability.

RESEARCH FINDINGS ON QUALITY CHILD CARE

There is agreement about what constitutes quality child care. Experts agree that health and safety requirements, developmentally appropriate activities, limited group size, adequate staff training in child development and early childhood education, warm staff-child interactions, adequate staff salaries, and adequate indoor and outdoor space are key components of quality child care. Child-to-caregiver ratios, group sizes, and teacher qualifications are probably the most critical.

The quality of child care has a significant impact on later child development. Many studies have shown a relationship between quality of child care and later language and cognitive development, social competence, peer interactions, and overall adjustment.

Compared to other options, quality child care yields more positive benefits for poor children. Several research studies have shown that poor children in high-quality infant and preschool care show better school achievement and social behavior in later years than similar children who were not in child care or who were in low quality child care.

Poor families often must choose lower quality care because their options are more restricted. Poorer families frequently must choose child care based on cost and availability rather than quality. This increases the likelihood that their children will be placed in lower quality child care settings.

Older children and special needs children also need care. Research consistently shows that juvenile crime occurs most often during after-school hours when youth are unsupervised. Parents of special needs children frequently report lack of appropriate child care for their children, especially as these children grow older.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Child care must be affordable, available, safe, and accessible for all children, including older children and special needs children.

• The quality of child care can be improved by addressing key issues in staff training, group size, and child-to-caregiver ratios.

• Continued research and evaluation is needed to help state and local agencies improve both the quality of child care and long-term outcomes for children in child care.

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