EFFECTS OF DAY-CARE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF COGNITIVE-ABILITIES IN 8-YEAR-OLDS - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

In Goteborg, Sweden, 146 children (72 girls) were enrolled in a longit udinal study when they averaged 16 months of age. None of the children had experienced regular out-of-home care yet, but within 3 months, 54 entered center care and 33 entered family day care. Quality of home a nd out-of-home care environments, child temperament, and the developme nt of verbal abilities were assessed regularly during preschool years. When they were 8 years old (2nd grade), cognitive ability tests were administered to the 123 children (65 girls) still in the study. Tested ability was related to the number of months children had spent in cen ter-based day care before 3.5 years of age. Child care quality predict ed cognitive abilities among children who had spent at least 36 months in out-of-home care during their preschool years. Both tested and rat ed cognitive abilities in 2nd grade were related to earlier measures o f verbal ability and to paternal involvement during preschool years.