If children are nurtured by their mothers with affection every day, toddlers will be more perceptive and intelligent compared to those who attend daycare or are cared for by strangers or relatives.
According to a report from the National Childcare Association in the UK, children who attend daycare performed the worst in developmental tests. They also displayed more aggressive and combative behaviors, occasionally showing submissiveness, less sociability, and higher levels of sadness. Children cared for by grandparents or relatives fared slightly better. Meanwhile, the development of children looked after by a nanny or caregiver was quite good, second only to the ideal situation of being with their mother.
The study involved approximately 1,200 young children and families living in North London and Oxfordshire. These children began to be assessed for developmental milestones from the age of 3 months up to 51 months.
According to team leader Penelope Leach, the study does not suggest that mothers need to be with their children all day for them to be smarter. What is crucial is to pay attention to fostering development for children from birth to 3 years old, particularly by enhancing the quality of childcare services.
Mỹ Linh
