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Family Perspectives

Abstract

Abstract: Research shows that the quality of care children receive in early childhood—whether from a parent, relative, or formal child care provider—significantly influences their cognitive, behavioral, and emotional development. This article analyzes several peer-reviewed sources to examine how different caregiving environments impact development and how these effects are moderated by the quality of care and the home environment. It also addresses how socioeconomic status can shape the quality of care children receive and the long-term outcomes associated with each caregiving type. While parents are typically seen as the ideal caregivers, children in nonparental care, such as with relatives or in formal childcare, can thrive when the care is sensitive, cognitively stimulating, and responsive. High-quality care in any setting supports children’s development, but children in low-income families are often less likely to access such care. Policies and programs that promote training and interventions for all types of caregivers would benefit children across various care settings. Caregivers and parents alike would gain from learning how to offer cognitively stimulating activities and how to respond to children’s behavioral and emotional needs. Because these programs are especially beneficial for families with low economic status (Stein et al., 2013; Votruba-Drzal et al., 2013), communities and policymakers should pursue solutions to provide affordable, high-quality care options for low-income families who depend on out-of-home care.

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