Children in quality day care programs play in supervised learning environments. Trained caregivers make sure that children have access to a variety of toys, art materials and educational activities. Although some parents worry about the effects of day care on child development, quality child care programs actually provide children with a safe learning environment, nutritional meals and an abundance of learning opportunities.
Identification
Day care options include home day care, child care centers and preschool programs. Adult to child ratios, caregiver qualifications and licensing standards vary by state and type of program. Parents looking for small group sizes and mixed-age play groups often find a good fit for their children in home day care programs. Centers and preschool programs group children according to age and usually provide care for larger groups of children. Some parents prefer age-based programs that provide learning activities based on developmental levels.
Significance
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development conducted a 15-year study to determine the effects of day care on child development. The Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development found that the quality of child care delivered to a child impacted developmental outcomes. Higher quality child care leads to improved cognitive and language development, and is linked to less aggressive social behavior and more positive interaction with peers.
Features
Quality programs place an emphasis on learning through play, and welcome parental involvement and input. A quality day care program promotes healthy social, emotional, physical, cognitive and language development by providing children with the tools they need to grow and learn through play. To find quality programs, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies recommends that you start looking early, visit prospective programs, and ask questions about caregiver training, adult to child ratios and turnover. Observe potential programs for at least an hour during your visit, and watch to see that children are allowed ample free play time, that art activities promote creativity and that language interactions between caregivers and children are positive.
Considerations
The child care study found that family and parent characteristics have a stronger impact on child development than child care. Factors that best predicted cognitive, language and social development include the family income, parents' education, mother's sensitivity and the quality of social and cognitive experiences in the home.
At home and in child care, children need positive language interactions, indoor and outdoor play time, opportunities for movement and self-expression, and access to books, sorting toys, blocks, puzzles, art materials and dramatic play items.
Benefits
When children experience quality learning environments both at home and in child care, you establish the foundation for healthy development. According to child care trainer and author Lisa Murphy, "97 percent of all learning takes place from the neck down." Children need time to play and develop large and small motor muscles. Using modeling clay, for example, is a pre-writing activity that helps develop the fine motor muscles of the hands, wrists and fingers. Solving puzzles, sorting and stacking teach children problem-solving skills. Positive social interactions help children learn how to express their feelings, to respect the feelings of others and to communicate, cooperate, take turns and share.
References
- NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development: Findings for Children Up to 4-1/2 Years
- National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies: 5 Steps to Choosing Quality Child Care
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development
- "Play"; Lisa Murphy, 2009
