Effects of Day Care on Cognitive Competence - Research Paper Example

Effect of Day Care on Cognitive Competence Customer Inserts His/Her Name Customer Inserts Grade Course Customer Inserts Tutor’s Name Insert Date Here (Day, Month, Year) Introduction The necessity for the daycare has increased manifold as many mothers are entering in the work force every year. Researchers focus on the children from birth to 3 years has been showing importance to the care they are receiving. According to the statistics, years from birth to 3 have the most prominent importance for the social and emotional development of a child. In fact statistics even showed that 49.7 per cent of all the mothers of infants are working outside their homes making it all the more mandatory for providing day care for children not only to look after them but also to ensure their social and emotional development. (Matlock & Green, 1989) As studied by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Early Child Care Research Network (NICHD), in 1975, around 34 percent mothers who had children below six years contributed their skills at work at the premises out of their home and this figure got raised to 61 percent in 1999. (NICHD, 2003) Previous studies have revealed the fact that the children in day cares are often seen with the higher cognitive levels but on the other hand they have been showing more and more assertiveness and low level of conformity with their peers. It has also come to the light that more the child is outside with the other group, the less controlled he is and more self confidence and less sensitivity he would show and will develop more and more of the psychological and emotional adjustments with their mothers. At home environment, it is often seen that children who are not send to the day care and both their parents are working, they often feel disturbed when they come back home after school and find it empty and the impact of it is notwithstanding very serious. (Hoffman & Youngblade 1999) Longitudinal study was conducted by Andersson in 1992 to study effects of day care on the cognitive development of the children and it was found that the children’s school performance who entered the day care before the age of 1 was highest, and was lowest among children who didn’t go to any day care. (Andersson, 1992) Large amount of literature has been written on the specific concept of the effect day cares have on the children’s cognitive as well as social development. Who cares for America’ Children by Cheryl D. Hayes reflects on the persons who should attain the responsibility to provide child care to the children-whether they should be working parents, government employees, schools or community members. His book explores in depth on the need for some concrete policy for the children’s over all development and also reflects on the way day cares have an effect on them and how much they are useful. (Hayes, Logan Palmer, & Zaslow, 1990) Hypothesis Following study presented the effect day care centers have on the social cognizance of child, whether the child under the day care is more confident as compared to the child who stays under the protective care of their parents. Research was based on the hypothesis that the children who have to spend more of their time in day care would be more socially adaptable, self confident in nature and easily adjustable in their new environment. The study was done by allowing 30 kindergarten children and their parents to answer the questions. These questions were based on their nature and aptitude towards their relatives and friends and their behaviors. SPSS was used as a process for analyzing of the data gathered with the result obtained towards the positive side. Combined methodology of questionnaire as well as observing their behavior was adopted in the study and while collecting of the data. Designing Experiment Participants We took for the study 30-kindergarten students, few males and other females along with their parents. Their age ranged around five years. Parents were divided into two groups; one group had their children spending most of their time in day care while other had their children spending maximum of their time with their parents. Children also were divided into these two categories. Materials A questionnaire was sent to the parents of participants to show their age, gender and any experiences parents might want to share regarding the behaviour pattern of their child before they joined the day care center and before they entered into the kindergarten. The participants were told to complete the questionnaire having the questions ranging from the way they showed their emotions, the way they interacted with them, demanded the things they like the most, and the way they interacted with their guests-whether they showed aloofness, or came forward to greet them or showed aggressiveness at their arrival. Along with this the questionnaire had multiple choice questions and also pictures of the famous cartoon characters and personalities behaving as they did. Children were made to recognize them and told them to note down these behaviors. Method The temperament and attitude of the parents were measured on the different scales showing the extent to which children showed their confidence. Children were seen on the basis of their rhythmicity, adaptability, intensity, mood, and the level to which they were distracted by the sounds. By measuring their behaviors on these concepts were compared to the amount of the confidence level children had while their stay at the day care center and the amount of the confidence level they showed while staying at home. Procedure After the questionnaire was distributed, participant parents were given week’s time to fill in the form. Parents were divided into two categories, first those parents whose children stayed with them at home and other parents who were working outside and had to make their child stay at the day care center. For parents, questionnaire consisted of several questions regarding first their own family background, their education history, where they were working and where they were residing. Along with it, there were questions about their child, were they too much interfering or scolding if their child was naughty or showing aggressive nature. Parents who had to send their children to the day care centers were asked the questions like how the child behaved in the morning if he was being taken to the day care, the way he behaved when he returned home, was there any change witnessed in their behavior before he was sent to the day care and after that? Other questions and the most important of all what did they a parent feel his confidence level had increased or reduced on account of his stay at day care? For the children concept followed was different, though questionnaire was sent yet that questionnaire had figures and small fun games in it for them to fill so that judgment was made regarding their behavior. One meeting was held with them making all the participant children sit in the one room with games and toys in their hands along with the photos to make them identify these photos. They were judged on the basis of their behavior and the way they interacted with each other and shared the toys. Some children just moved around, while some played together and some just fought with each other. Pictures were shown to them to make them identify which one looks closer to their personality. Analysis of the data The analysis of the data was done with the help of SPSS. With this help, results were analyzed with the help of the scale measurements and numbering system. Ranking was done on the answers supplied by the candidates on the questions. The results depicted the fact that parents of the children staying with them were ranking minimum as per their confidence level was concerned at the rate of the 5: 1 as compared to the children spending much of their time at the day care centers. And after the data was analyzed of the parents, it was found that the maximum working parents sending their children to the day care were not much aware of the emotional needs of their children therefore it was found that 6: 1 parents who have children with them have better understanding about their children’s emotional needs. From the game show, it was found that children who were staying at day care were more intelligent and their confidence level was also more as compared to the children spending their time at home. Result Discussions The above study revealed the fact that there is a direct as well as positive relationship between the quality of the childcare, cognitive development of the child and social competency level. If the children get better quality childcare during their preschool years, they can attain better cognitive as well as social skills during that time period. After the analysis of the data, it was also found that if the children spend maximum hours in the group, they would be linked in the better way and have better reading and mathematical skills but would attain worst social skills and other behavioral problems. It has obviously come out to be true that children spending their time in child care centers are much safer than those who are receiving the care in the vicinity of their own homes, be it in their neighbour’s place or with their nanny or grand parents. When deep data analysis was done on the questionnaire and the nature and aptitude of the participating children in the games room was watched, it was found that the children who had been living under the protective care of their parents were showing more aggressive in nature, non compliance irrespective of the kind or quality of care being given to them. As contrast to the homes of today, daycare centers provided much conducive environment for the cognitive development of the child. Their skills in identifying the pictures, the way they played the games and solved the puzzles clearly showed they were much more cognitively developed. Through the questionnaires from the parents too, we got varied answers regarding the level of understanding parents showed towards their kids. Many answers have come to light. Some parents taking care of their children in their own domain believed that they could better understand the emotional and physical needs of their child but on further questioning, it was found that there were several aspects to the emotional needs of the child which even mothers were not able to understand and that could lead to their lower level of confidence. It has also been found that children were more physically at risk and could suffer from injury and sexual abuse if left under the family care. Parents themselves had brought forth these insights highlighting the way their children get physically injured while playing alone inside the room. If one way analysis is done on the day care systems with the help of SPASS there are variedness in the results in the kind of daycare experienced and the way scales perceived like cognitive behaviour, competence, the way they accept care from their parents and peers. When the scales were measured it was found that students are at the highest scale of confidence if they are under the day care systems and their moods, their adaptable nature and their attitude are also best and their scores are comparatively higher. Other children staying under the parental care are more emotionally stable. Conclusion From our study and deep analysis, it has been found that a child should be properly taken care of which could lead to their better cognitive development and increase in the confidence level. The quality of the childcare whether at the day care as well as under the parent care have been both found to be in between the middle to the moderate level. Parents who were found to have better understanding of their children’s emotional needs be it under their care or at day care center have children better socially adaptable with higher confidence level. Over all from these studies have come to light one biggest factor: children can attain higher confidence level if they get quality care be it home or day care, but along with it children also need emotional care. The above study and several other studies have come out with this fact that quality care children are getting more from the day care centers but at the same time emotional care they are getting more from their parents. Therefore in today’s world where both parents are working, children should be send to day care centers while at the same time parents should take out some time for them for their emotional upliftment then only they can attain greater confidence level. . Appendix A Questionnaire from Parents having their children staying at day care 1. What is your name and family background 2. Relationship with your child? 3. How closely bond you are with your child/ 4. To what extent can you understand the emotional needs of your child 1. What you do if your child cries? 2. What you do if your child feel reluctant to go to day care 3. What he or she does after return from day care 4. Do you have any other expectation from the child 5. What is their performance in class? Questions from Parents having their children under their care? 1. The name of your child 2. Your relationship with the child 3. The extent to which you are emotionally bond with your child Level 1 Very close Level 2 Nearby close Level 3 Little far Level 4 Very far 4. What is their performance in the class? 5. How much quality time you spend with the child? 6. What kind of behavior they show when they are with you and while they are outside? Little aggressive Less aggressive More aggressive Very aggressive The questionnaires for children under care of parents were drawn on the bases of their age and their aptitude they would show towards others in their own circle or outside it. Pictures of famous personalities were drawn showing some actions and children were made to compare their behavior with these pictures. Some children will show reluctance in the same while others have marked the pictures they liked very much and they found similarity with and then the numbers are counted. They were also made to sit in the groups and made to play the games and careful watch was undertaken to see their performance whether they are plying aloof or are playing in groups. Reference List Andersson, B-K. (1992). Effects of Day-Care on Cognitive and Socioemotional Competence of. Thirteen-Year-Old Swedish Schoolchildren. Child Development, 63, 20-36. Clarke-Stewart, K.A. (2002). Nonparental Caregiving. In Marc H. Bornstein (Ed.) Handbook of Parenting: Being and becoming a parent (pp. 215-252). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Clarke-Stewart, K.A., Gruber, C.P., & Fitzgerald, L.M. (1994). Children at Home and in Day Care. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Fabes, R.A., Hanish, L.D., & Martin, C.L. (2003). Children at play: the role of peers in understanding the effects of child care. Child Development, 74(4), 1039-1043. Fabes, R.A., Shepard, S.A., Guthrie, I.K., & Martin, C.L. (1997). Roles of temperamental arousal and gender-segregated play in young children’s social adjustment. Developmental Psychology, 33(4), 693-702.  Hayes, C.D., Palmer, J.L. & Zaslow, M.J. 1990. Who cares for America's children? Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Hoffman, L.N.W. & Youngblade, L.M. 1999. Mothers at work: effects on children's well-being. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Matlock, J. R. & Green, V.P. (1989). Cooperative behaviour and peer competence in day care and home-reared children. Early Child Development and Care, 44(1), 1-4. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Early Childcare Research Network. (2003). Does the amount of time spent in child care predict socioemotional adjustment during the transition to kindergarten? Child Development, 74(4), 976-1005. Pelligrini, A.D. (1992). Kindergarten children’s social-cognitive status as a predictor of first grade success. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 7(4), 565-577. Read More

HypothesisThe following study presented the effect daycare centers have on the social cognizance of the child, whether the child under the daycare is more confident as compared to the child who stays under the protective care of their parents. The research was based on the hypothesis that the children who have to spend more of their time in daycare would be more socially adaptable, self-confident in nature, and easily adjustable in their new environment. The study was done by allowing 30 kindergarten children and their parents to answer the questions.

These questions were based on their nature and aptitude towards their relatives and friends and their behaviors. SPSS was used as a process for analyzing the data gathered with the result obtained towards the positive side. The combined methodology of the questionnaire as well as observing their behavior was adopted in the study and while collecting the data.Participants We took for the study 30-kindergarten students, few males, and other females along with their parents. Their age ranged around five years.

Parents were divided into two groups; one group had their children spending most of their time in daycare while the other had their children spending a maximum of their time with their parents. Children also were divided into these two categories.Materials A questionnaire was sent to the parents of participants to show their age, gender and any experiences parents might want to share regarding the behavior pattern of their child before they joined the daycare center and before they entered the kindergarten.

The participants were told to complete the questionnaire having the questions ranging from the way they showed their emotions, the way they interacted with them, demanded the things they like the most, and the way they interacted with their guests-whether they showed aloofness or came forward to greet them or showed aggressiveness at their arrival. Along with this, the questionnaire had multiple-choice questions and also pictures of the famous cartoon characters and personalities behaving as they did.

Children were made to recognize them and told them to note down these behaviors.Method The temperament and attitude of the parents were measured on different scales showing the extent to which children showed their confidence. Children were seen based on their rhythmicity, adaptability, intensity, mood, and the level to which they were distracted by the sounds. By measuring their behaviors on these concepts were compared to the amount of the confidence level children had while their stay at the daycare center and the amount of the confidence level they showed while staying at home.

Procedure After the questionnaire was distributed, participant parents were given a week to fill in the form. Parents were divided into two categories, first, those parents whose children stayed with them at home and other parents who were working outside and had to make their child stay at the daycare center. For parents, the questionnaire consisted of several questions regarding first their own family background, their education history, where they were working, and where they were residing.

Along with it, there were questions about their child, were they too much interfering or scolding if their child was naughty or showing aggressive nature. Parents who had to send their children to the daycare centers were asked the questions like how the child behaved in the morning if he was being taken to the daycare, the way he behaved when he returned home, was there any change witnessed in their behavior before he was sent to the daycare and after that? Other questions and the most important of all what did they a parent feel his confidence level had increased or reduced on account of his stay at daycare?

For the children concept followed was different, though the questionnaire was sent yet that questionnaire had figures and small fun games in it for them to fill so that judgment was made regarding their behavior.

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