In the enormous child care care ecosystem conversation, there is an idea that one to one care, like a nanny, parent, or grandparent, is ideal until a child is three years old, at which point they are able to "benefit" from being in a group with other children. We look at this claim, the idea that group care is either not beneficial or actively detrimental, and talk about what quality of care really comes down to.

Sources:

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Bernier, A., Cote, S. M., Theriault, R. L., Leclerc, G. On executive functioning and childcare: The moderating role of parent–child interactions DOI: 10.1111/desc.13534

Barry, K. M. Early childcare arrangements and children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms: an individual participant data meta-analysis of six prospective birth cohorts in Europe https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101036

Nystad, K. Change in toddlers’ cortisol activity during a year in childcare. Associations with childcare quality, child temperament, well-being and maternal education https://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2022.2048371

Fukkink, R. Is childcare good or bad for children’s socio-emotional development? Context matters https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101044