Do Mothers Who Work Outside the Home Have a Negative Effect on Their Children

Do Mothers Who Work Outside the Home Have a Negative Effect on their Children Mothers who work outside the home are essentially the norm rather than the exception. In the United States, eighty percent of mothers work in the first year of their child’s life. Seventy-five percent of those work full-time. Therefore, many of our children today spend much of their early years in some form of alternate day setting. This can be a daycare center, a home daycare, or a family member’s home. The fact that a mother is working outside of the home is not necessarily what is harmful to a child. Studies show the most important factors are the quality of the child care that a child receives and exactly when the mother returns to full time work. When mothers are able to stay home with their children for the first six months and then return to work, they have a better outcome for an increased cognitive development. (Barack 2010) A strong nurturing daycare setting is a healthy alternative for children whose mothers need to work. These children can go on with no ill effect into their school age years. It is not an issue now, in 2012 whether or not a mom works, it is more of a matter of when. Children are offered the opportunity to see two strong role models choosing careers, showing a strong work ethic, and contributing financially. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a working mother. Having a positive influence, such as a mother in the workforce, can show children the new economic reality of the 21st century. The economic reality is that few can afford to be a one income family. Those days are long gone and may never be seen again. Kids no longer ask, “Does your mom work?” They now ask, “What does your mom do for a living?”

References
Barak, L. (2010, August 24). Study: Working moms don 't have a negative inpact on kids. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newsletters/newsletterbucketextrahelping/886495-443/study_working_moms_dont_have.html.csp

References: Barak, L. (2010, August 24). Study: Working moms don 't have a negative inpact on kids. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newsletters/newsletterbucketextrahelping/886495-443/study_working_moms_dont_have.html.csp Brooks-Gunn, J., Han, W., & Waldfogel, J. (2010). First-year maternal employment and child development in the first 7 years: VIII. Discussion and conclusions. Monographs Of The Society For Research In Child Development, 75(2), 96-113. Tong, L., Shinohara, R., Sugisawa, Y., Tanaka, E., Maruyama, A., Sawada, Y., & ... Anme, T. (2009). Relationship of working mothers’ parenting style and consistency to early childhood development: A longitudinal investigation. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 65(10), 2067-2076. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05058.x