Single mothers who use informal childcare arrangements after the firstyear of birth may be hampering their child's development, according tonew research from the USA. But family campaigners have urged caution andsay such findings must not be used to put more pressure on hard-pressedlone parents.
The study looked at a sample of more than 1,500 single mothers from theUSA's National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to evaluate the impact ofmaternal time and income on child development. It assessed results fromvocabulary and verbal ability tests for three- to five-year-olds alongwith tests measuring the mathematical ability, reading and comprehensionskills of children aged five and above. The study found formal care didnot have a detrimental impact but children cared for by relatives orfriends scored less well.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
