The relationship between infant day care and socio-emotional development with French children aged 3–4 years

Early day care has been implicated as a risk factor for socio-emotional development. Research findings are not clear. Day care is extensively used in France from infancy onwards and the diverse range of care provides an opportunity for research addressing this issue. 125 children who had diverse day care experience in the first 3 years of life were studied at 3–4 years of age when they were at nursery school. Maternal interviews provided data on day care histories, and family characteristics. Maternal and teacher questionnaires provided data on child temperament and social behaviour. An observation of children’s behaviour during stranger approach/mother separation/reunion sequence provided data on attachment-related behaviours. The child’s socio-emotional development was considered as a function of sex, day care characteristics and family characteristics.