Attachment Theory Essay

Back in 1970, the majority of families consisted of a working paternal parent and a stay-at-home maternal parent. In today’s society that has shifted. Since 1970, “the overall maternal labor force participation rate rose from 38% to 68%” (Smolensky, 2003, p.1). This means that more children are being cared for by someone other than the child’s parent than ever before. With the increase in need for childcare, what effect does child care have on children in today’s society? Once determined that child care is needed, a parent then has to assess the best options for the child to develop. Although it is difficult, both emotionally and sometimes financially, to send a child to child care, it is proven that through different activities childcare
“Studies have highlighted that in order for early brain development to occur productivity, children’s brains require stimulation through human attachment and a good environment” (Walker, 2011, p. 21). Starting from infancy, children form attachments that assist in the brain development. The attachment theory “suggests that children come into the world biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with others, because this will help them survive” (McLeod, 2009). This attachment not only happens with the parent, but also with a childcare worker. During this attachment “trust is established as a result of day-to-day experiences. This sets the stage for the establishment of patterns of learning and other primary tasks for the first year” (Daniel, Gilligan, Wassell, 2010, p. 46). Once a child associates a child care worker with specific actions, the child learns and grows developmentally. “Attachment figures have a very significant part to play in the child’s feeling of security” (Daniel, Gilligan, Wassell, 2010, p. 44). This attachment with a caregiver is a benefit to the child, as he or she learns and
Center-based, home-based, and grandparent care are three major types of childcare available to parents. These different types of childcare differ in multiple ways including but not limited to, “physical facilities, the number and kinds of materials, the flexibility of the daily schedule, the number of children, child/adult ratio, and caregivers education”. Center-based childcare is a separate childcare entity. These can be religious or non-religious based. These center-based childcare “typically offers more higher educated caregivers, larger group sizes, more time spent learning and structured activities” (Smolensky, 2003, p. 121). A home-based childcare is childcare provided usually by 1 individual inside his or her home. “In child care homes, children spend more time in free exploration, casual learning, and watching TV than in centers” (Smolensky, 2003, p. 121). Another type of childcare available to some parents is grandparent’s care, in which a grandparent cares for the child. One thing to note, is that “center-based care was associated with higher scores on standardized cognitive assessments”. This is in large part due to stricter standards for center-based child care. Based on these differences, a parent will decide what the child needs and pick the best type of childcare for the