Non Parental Child Care Effects

Effects of Non-parental Childcare Non-parental childcare is defined by Berns as “the care given to children by persons other than parents during the parts of the day that parents are absent (2010, p.161)”, and includes in-home care providers, family daycare providers, and group care, center-based providers. Currently, family, friends and neighbors are the most common form of non-parental child care used in the United States, especially for younger children. Over 60 percent of children under the age of five are cared for by a non-parental caregiver. 50 percent of children ages 3 – 5 attend some sort of formal child care in a center, whereas infant and toddlers are cared for predominantly by a grandparent or family member, neighbor or a close
In-home care or family day care providers typically have lower levels of education in child growth and development than do those caregivers in licensed child care center. Because of the lack of education in child development, caregivers may not know what is developmentally appropriate for young children. Experience with children is usually based solely on experience with the caregivers own children, or from babysitting jobs. Although training and education may be lacking there is a great advantage of non-parental child care; motivation. Motivation is usually based on the relationship with the child, for instance the relationship that a grandparent has with a grandchild. Most interactions between the child and the caregiver are warm and nurturing. There is also more time for one-on-one interactions with the child. These prime time moments can be hard to find in a group care facility. This is even more the reason that parents should carefully select a high-quality child care facility (Susman-Stillman, A., Banghart, P.,
Overall, research has shown that what counts is relationships and quality programming regardless of whether a parent chooses a family member, a neighbor, a live-in nanny, family day care provider, or a group care facility, Children who attend a quality child care program, such as one that is NAEYC accredited, are deemed more socially competent and typically show higher intellectual performance than those who do not. Psychologically, children who attend higher quality centers are more likely to develop a healthy sense of self and are better able to express their emotions in a positive way. Berns tells us that “children, especially from low-income families, who attend a quality preschool program, even part-time, are more verbally expressive, and more interactive with adults than children who do not (2011, p.171).” They are also more likely to be able to meet school performance