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Quotes
from books about daycare -
2005-2006,
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Book |
Quote/Comment |
Raising Babies:
Should under 3s go to nursery?
by Steve Biddulph,
©2005, p.52-53 |
(The daycare debate) got very nasty, as disputes
in academia tend to do. Research projects that did not meet the needs of the
prevailing (pro-nursery care) ideology were suppressed or abandoned.
...This division among experts was reflected in wider society. The infamous
'Mummy Wars' indicated a major philosophical clash of values that split the
culture.
Category = History, Politics |
Raising Babies:
Should under 3s go to nursery?
by Steve Biddulph,
©2005, p.54 |
Even the most ardent advocates of
nursery care have remained critical of the poor standard and unresourced
nature of many centres. Quality care became the catch phrase. 'If it is good
quality, it will be alright -- in fact it will be better than you can give
at home.' This was the state of play by about 1995, and few dared to say
otherwise. Yet this was about to come tumbling down.
Category =History, Quality |
Raising Babies:
Should under 3s go to nursery?
by Steve Biddulph,
©2005, p.59-66 |
These three (large long-term) studies*
along with others in countries ranging from Australia to
Norway...have led to a considerable change of viewpoint among those who felt
that nursery care was at worst harmless, and at best a positive thing for
children under three years of age.
Here, in summary, is what was found across all three studies:
-Yes, there is some damage
-The quality of care doesn't prevent the damage
-Less is better, but there is no safe threshold
-Timing is crucial
-The damage is moderate but widespread
If anything, the studies may well
underestimate the damaging effects.
*Studies:
1 ) NICHD - US's National Institute of Child Health and Development study
2) EPPE -
UK's Effective Provision of Pre-School Education study
3) British Child Development Expert Penelope Leach's study
Category = Behavior, Development, History, Quality
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Raising Babies:
Should under 3s go to nursery?
by Steve Biddulph,
©2005, p.68-69 |
Meanwhile, the studies reported above
are now being replicated or improved on in other places worldwide. Studies
in Italy, Sweden, Norway, Australia and Bermuda have all reported similar
problems of early nursery care being linked to behaviour problems, and to
problems in bonding with parents.
Category =Behavior |
Raising Babies:
Should under 3s go to nursery?
by Steve Biddulph,
©2005, p.74 |
"...To improve the responsiveness of
group care requires maintaining very high staff-infant ratios and keeping
staff turnover down to an absolute minimum. Both are very expensive."
In fact, it is almost impossible. Turnover of nursery staff is running at
30-40 per cent, caused by low pay, poor training and low status. Britain
spends only 0.3 per cent of GDP* on early years
provision, compared with 2 per cent by Sweden. In other words, a six-fold
increase in expenditure would be needed to achieve a standard which Swedish
parents have decided still isn't good enough.
*GDP = Gross
Domestic Product
Category = Economics, Quality |
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Quotes
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Last updated:
02/27/2008
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