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Child Care in Poor Communities: Early Learning Effects of Type, Quality, and Stability
Author(s) -
Loeb Susanna,
Fuller Bruce,
Kagan Sharon Lynn,
Carrol Bidemi
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00653.x
Subject(s) - psychology , cognition , cognitive development , early childhood education , child care , developmental psychology , child development , welfare , early childhood , day care center , quality (philosophy) , cognitive skill , day care , gerontology , medicine , nursing , psychiatry , philosophy , epistemology , political science , law
Young children in poor communities are spending more hours in nonparental care because of policy reforms and expansion of early childhood programs. Studies show positive effects of high‐quality center‐based care on children's cognitive growth. Yet, little is known about the effects of center care typically available in poor communities or the effects of home‐based care. Using a sample of children who were between 12 and 42 months when their mothers entered welfare‐to‐work programs, this paper finds positive cognitive effects for children in center care. Children also display stronger cognitive growth when caregivers are more sensitive and responsive, and stronger social development when providers have education beyond high school. Children in family child care homes show more behavioral problems but no cognitive differences.