Abstract
This study examined early external childcare in relation to development from age 7 to 20. A Swiss sample was used (N = 1,225; 52% male). Development included multi-informant-reported externalizing behavior, internalizing problems, prosocial behavior, delinquency, and substance use. Growth curve models revealed that, dependent on the informant, time in a daycare center was related to increased externalizing and internalizing problems until at least age 11. It was not related to delinquency. Roughly three days per week at a daycare mother or playgroup was related to increased externalizing behavior. External family care was associated with increased prosocial behavior. Finally, time in a daycare center was associated with fewer externalizing but more internalizing problems and substance use for children from vulnerable backgrounds. This relation with substance use lasted to age 20.
Highlights
IntroductionAccording to the notion of developmental pathways, early life experiences can shape lives for a long time to come, affecting initial development and long-term socio-behavioral trajectories [1]
We focused on the amount and type of external childcare but not on its quality, which is another aspect that has been related to child development but was not included in our data [3]
We examined the relation of external childcare before Kindergarten with child and youth development from ages 7 to 20
Summary
According to the notion of developmental pathways, early life experiences can shape lives for a long time to come, affecting initial development and long-term socio-behavioral trajectories [1]. One context that has increasingly contributed to shaping lives is external childcare. One often asked and studied question is how external childcare is related to child development. An increasing number of studies has examined this question but, though contributing greatly to our knowledge, most offer only a momentary glimpse of development because the underlying data are limited to snapshots of pathways. The vast majority of studies could only examine short-term relations of external childcare with development.
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