Children who are cared for in creches are just as healthy, emotionally and socially, as those cared for by a stay-at-home parent, a family member or a childminder.
That is the main finding of a new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute (
ESRI), which shows that five-year-olds who spend the first three years of their lives in creche care may even experience fewer emotional and peer problems than children in full time parental care.
The study, which was based on data and interviews with parents and teachers of up to 11,000 children in Ireland, showed that many children do better in centre-based childcare because it has the potential to counteract the negative impacts of social disadvantage and family issues.
At age three, prior to the Free Preschool Year, around half the children in the study were in non-parental childcare (relative care, usually by a grandparent, non-relative care, typically a childminder, and centre-based care, e.g. crèche).
Children’s socio-emotional outcomes were assessed based on their pro-social skills, such as sharing and kindness to younger children, and socio-emotional difficulties (conduct problems, emotional difficulties, hyperactivity/inattention and peer problems) as reported by their mothers and teachers.
The study found that children cared for by relatives at age three have somewhat fewer socio-emotional difficulties and better social skills at age five than those looked after by their parents full-time.
Other findings
Children cared for by a non-relative (e.g. a childminder) at age three were rated by both parents and teachers as having fewer socio-emotional difficulties, in particular, fewer emotional and peer problems than children in full-time parental care.
Boys, children whose parents were experiencing financial difficulties and children living in less safe neighbourhoods were found to be more likely to have behavioural issues.
Interestingly, a child’s health, gender, socio-economic background, family structure, and other family characteristics such as parenting style and parental stress had a greater impact on socio-emotional development than childcare.
The new subsidy scheme announced in the Budget will provide means tested childcare subsidies for children aged six months to 15 years and universal subsidies of up to €900 a year for all children aged between six months and three years.
Does your experience correlate with the findings of this study? Let us know on Twitter @HerFamilydotie. 
