Psychology - Day care Flashcards
Main options of day care
Nursery based care
Family based care
- Childminder
- Nanny
- Informal
Anderson 1989
Carried out studies in Sweden
Found children who attended day care were able to get along with other children better, more sociable and outgoing
They also had better abilites to play with peers
Campbell et al
2000 - Sweden
Studied a group of children that attended childcare continously between 18 months and 3½ years of age
- 9 in family based care
- 30 in nursery
- 9 who started in family based but switched to nursery
These were compared to those who didn’t get places in day care
Visited at the beginning of their time in day care and watched playing with other children to give baseline condition at 18 months
Campbell et al results
Children who spent long days in day care under the age of 3½ were less socially competant
Those who attend lots of shorter days became more socially competant
Those who went to better quality day care had better social skills
Children who were socially skilled at 3½ tended to be socially skilled at later checks
What age did Campbell et al follow up on children and how?
2½ years and 3½ years in day care
6½ years social competence of children was assesed by asking the care provider to describe the childs social skills
8½ years asked teachers to give opinions on social behaviour
15 years visited at home and filled out self-report measures
Belksy
2006
Longitudinal study in America using 1000 infants
Those that go to day care seem to show higher levels of aggression towards peers and disobediance
Maccoby and Lewis
2003
Found more hours in day care before 4½ correlated with behavioural problems at school
Field
1988
Teachers rated children who had been in full time day care as more aggressive and assertive with peers
Studies that found positives of day care
Anderson (1989)
Clarke-Stewart (1991)
Studies that have found negatives of day care
Field (1988)
Belksy (2006)
Maccoby and Lewis (2003)
Clarke-Stewart
1991
Argues that disobediance from those who attended day care is them having learnt to take care of themselves better
Melhuish
Compared types of day care
- From relatives
- Childminder
- Nursey
Assessed children at 18 months and 3 years for language skills and cooperation with peers
18 months - Relative care had highest language skills
3 years - Nursery had best social skills, but language still not as advanced as relative care
What year was Melhuish?
1990
Watamura et al
2006
Found cortisol levels gradually rose on days when infants went to day care but not when at home
Suggests it is a stresful experience
Factors that make good day care/make it less stressful
Low staff turnover
Key worker for infants to attach to
Structured day
As many adults to children as possible so they get maximum attention
Mixed age groups
