Researchers and trained observers, in cooperation with caregivers, assessed children using age-appropriate tests, questionnaires and direct observation and controlled for varying characteristics such as family backgrounds. On the positive side, both high-quality care, regardless of type, and center care, independent of quality, appeared to boost intellectual growth, memory and language skills. Differences were small but statistically significant. Those in lower quality care, for example, fell into the 42nd percentile, on average, in pre-academic skills, while those in higher quality care averaged the 57th percentile, Burchinal said. Children with fewer than 10 hours a week of center care averaged the 44 th percentile in language skills, while those with 30 or more hours a week fell into the 57 percentile, on average.
Quality indeed makes a difference.
Researchers also found, however, that children who spent more time in care outside the home somewhat more aggressive toward other children and disobedient or defiant toward adults at 54 months and later when they were in kindergarten. They also were more likely to bully, fight with or act mean to others. That was 16 percent of subjects in the former group vs. 5 percent in the latter. By the time the children were in kindergarten, differences had narrowed to 17 percent vs. 9 percent. Higher quality care corresponded with fewer problem behaviors, the study showed.