Don't let the report make you feel guilty!
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
March 26, 2007 2:51pm CST
If you are like a lot of parents; you have seen the recently released report that says that day care for more than one year makes children more disruptive in school.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-nudaycare_26nat.ART.State.Edition1.444e066.html
After reading the entire article though, I am amazed that they chose THIS aspect of the report to sensationalize.
The report stated: "The effect was slight, and well within the normal range for healthy children, the researchers found. And as expected, parents' guidance and their genes had by far the strongest influence on how children behaved."
So, if the "effect" was within normal range for healthy children - it did NOT make a significant difference.
What they should have been headlining was: "On the positive side, the authors also found that time spent in high-quality day-care centers correlated with higher vocabulary scores through elementary school."
As a matter of fact, these same "higher vocabulary scores" may actually have contributed to more "disruptive behavior". A child who has a better understanding of vocabulary will understand more about what is being said around them and in class and is more likely to speak up (and out of turn) responding to what is being said in class.
It looks like, overall, day care was more beneficial than detrimental.
3 people like this
3 responses
@SageMother (2277)
• United States
26 Mar 07
I swear these reports are meant to slow women going to work and earning their own money. It is funny that you see that report but then the government keeps wanting to get kids into a public school setting at a younger and younger age. There are programs here where kids as young as 3 attend public school...and it isn't because they are gifted.
I think you are right. They should have had a more balanced presentation. It IS supposed to be that way when something that is truly news, is reported. This piece isn't news. It is manipulating emotions. LOL
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
26 Mar 07
The facts were all there; but, the article was definitely "slanted". Many people just read the title and maybe the first paragraph of many articles; I wonder how many missed the "rest of the story".
@michelledarcy (5220)
•
26 Mar 07
It is true that children who are more clever and most likely to be disruptive as they get bored more easily.
Therefore your conclusions from this report seem to be true.
It does seem that there is a trend to encourage mothers to stay at home with their children. I am wondering if this is something to do with reducing the number of unemployed people rather than really caring about the way children grow up.
After all since when was the government cared about any of us? All they care about is votes.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
26 Mar 07
If the government really wanted more women to "stay at home" in order to reduce the number of unemployed people; they would make it so that a single worker could afford to support their family on one income.
Personally, I don't care if the man or the woman stays home; today most people don't have that choice.
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
3 Apr 07
It makes no sense. Half the things written are like this. Guess they just need to make news for buyers for $$$. Then, after a while , the stories retract and change again. I have rated you again dear, ++, keep going. You are doing great. Don't forget to rate all of us too. And give the one special person, "Best response" by their names.
