DAY-CARE FOR EARLY PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHILD AND FAMILY

The use of nonparental day care for children has increased over the pa st several decades and mirrors changes in the social and economic fabr ic of the United States. In the case of the early preschool child, pre cise understanding of the implications of day care for later developme nt remains elusive. Of equal concern are the implications of early pre school day care for the family unit and especially the mother. What co nstitutes appropriate, safe, and affordable day care has been debated. The impact of poor care is demonstrable for both the child and family . Quality day care offers the potential for positive psychological dev elopment of the child and the family. The research related to day care for young children has expanded our knowledge of child development, b ut it also highlights a need for expanded research using refined measu res of psychological growth and child-parent interaction. This report was approved by the APA Board of Trustees in December 1992.