Outline and Evaluate research into the effects of day care on social development

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Outline and Evaluate research into the effects of day care on social development

There has been a lot of research looking into the effects day care has on a child’s social development. A general observation suggests that children attending daycare at nurseries generally have more contact with other children of a similar age than children who are cared for at home, thus providing them with more opportunity to develop social skills such as sharing and talking to others. Children who are home reared may not get these opportunities and therefore will not be as sociable. A lot of research points to day care having positive effects on social development, this is shown by Anderssons (1989,1992) studies in which he found that children who attended daycare were able to get along with other children better, were more sociable and outgoing and had better abilities to play with peers than those who did not attend daycare. Another study which found positive effects on social development was by Moely and Frank (1998) found that children who spend more time in daycare played more pro-socially with others. Both these studies show how regular interaction between familiar people (peers and nursery workers) allow the child to gain social competence and increasing the child’s confidence allowing for a more co-operative and happier child.

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However some research looks at the possible negative effects daycare can have on a child’s social development. Belsky (2006) suggests that children who have experienced daycare tend to show higher levels of problem behaviours including aggression towards peers. Maccoby and Lewis (2003) also took this view and argued that more hours spent in daycare before the child was 4 and a half correlated with a range of negative social outcomes such as problems at school and low social skills. Both these studies contradict the ones mentioned earlier and suggest that more time spent in daycare with peers will lead ...

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Summary The writer has presented all the main evidence that is required and has concluded that it is the quality of day care which is important. The writing needs more structure however, and needs an introduction that sets out the initial argument about day care. The writer can then go on to produce the evidence for and against. Also, there is a bit too much detail with regards the studies and not enough focus on the results. It would be advisable to add some evidence with regards the very young children, under two years, which caused some controversy, since it concluded children so young should not be in day care. Overall this is a short, well informed essay on day care. 3 stars