The impact of day care

Children who attend day care centres have different behavioral characteristics than children cared for at home by parents. Several studies report that children who have attended day care are more aggressive, more physically active, less cooperative, interact more with their peers, and are slower in acquiring adults' cultural values than children cared for at home. While children from low risk families appear to gain no cognitive advantage from day care, those from high risk families or with developmental problems do. Problems with hearing, vision, development or behavior, and child abuse may be identified in a well organized centre. Early recognition of developmental problems may help ensure the child does not lack self-worth later on.