| ||||||
Supporting Growth and Development of Babies in Child Care: What Does the Research Say? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From Center for Law and Social Policy: The central tenet of the Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project is that state child care subsidy and licensing policies that promote the quality and continuity of early childhood experiences can positively impact the healthy growth and development of babies and toddlers. Many families with low incomes need assistance to afford child care. In FY 2005, the federal Early Head Start (EHS) program, which provides comprehensive child development and family support services to young children under age three and pregnant women, served approximately 81,914 children and 10,485 pregnant women.7 Research on EHS demonstrates positive outcomes for both parents and their children. A rigorous, large-scale, random-assignment evaluation showed that children who participated in EHS programs showed gains in language and cognitive development; they also exhibited lower levels of aggressive behavior and had more positive interactions with their parents than did children from similar backgrounds who did not participate in EHS. A secure attachment relationship between the infant and the caregiver can complement the relationship between parents and young children and facilitate early learning and social development.13 Infants with secure attachment relationships with their caregivers are more likely to play, explore, and interact with adults in their child care setting.14 To enhance the relationship between caregivers and young children, some early childhood programs have embraced a continuity of care model, whereby the caregiver cares for the same cohort of children for the first three years of life (as opposed to graduating children to new classrooms as they get older). Increasing Choices for Low-income Working Families -- Most families that are low income---defined as having earnings below 200 percent of poverty---include a yearround, full-time worker.20 Research shows that when families are not able to access child care assistance, they may go into debt, return to welfare, or choose lower-quality, less stable child care. When families need assistance from state child care subsidies to pay for care, are there family-strengthening policies in place that foster continuity of care and support the availability of and access to quality infant and toddler child care services in the community?
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
