The Negative Effects of Child Care on Child Development
Dxx Wxxxxxxxx
Anthropology 101
Mr. Bxx Lxxxxx
September 5, 2010

Is child care having a negative effect on the development of children in the United States? Studies show that there are indeed negative psychological and developmental effects on children. Scientists in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are coming to the same conclusion. It is best for a child to be cared for at home.

Over the past five to six decades women have been entering the workforce in ever increasing numbers. Some enter because of financial need and others for professional and career goals. Whatever the reason, the result for the children is the same; they are in daycare. Many
Children need to be children. They should not be exposed to all of the pressures of our adult working lives by having to spend most of their waking hours away from home in an extremely structured environment. I see it everyday; it’s like a ‘burn-out’ syndrome of sorts. These kids should not have to be exposed at such an early age to “excessive sensory stimulation, over-regulation of children’s activities and daily schedules; small opportunity to be original…excessive stress from all-day socializing (one researcher likened the social stress of fulltime day care to taking part in a cocktail party that lasts all day, every day-without the lubricating effects of the alcohol!). (ProQuest, Hard Cases, pg. 1).

In addition to what teachers are witnessing in schools, there is medical evidence to support the negative and stressful effects of full-time daycare on children. In a study performed by the Institute of Child Development of the University of Minnesota it was found “that in kids younger than three, levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, rose in the afternoon during full days they spent in day care, but fell when they got home”. (Negative Effects, pg. 2). This is concrete proof of the stress our kids are subjected to during all day daycare.

Researchers have agreed that the quality of the daycare facility does matter. A child will suffer fewer