Long hours in nurseries 'can lead to anti-social toddlers'

Ed: This article is based on different research from that highlighted in the Guardian article below. The government spokesman's response is interesting: "The [UK] study also found that good quality provision - better average qualification levels of staff and presence of a qualified teacher, significantly improves levels of social and emotional development and reduces the risk of children developing negative behaviours. Our drive to improve skills and qualifications is therefore the right way to tackle this issue." Yet the American study referred to in the Guardian came to a different conclusion: "There is something unique to group-based childcare. But it's not about the quality of care - the researchers eliminated that possibility. Nor is it about the quality of parenting. It could be the scenario of stressed, tired parents picking up children after work, but the study ruled out quality of parenting too."

Toddlers who attend nurseries for 35 hours a week are more likely to display anti-social behaviour and be worried and upset, research for the Government suggests.

A study of a £370 million Government initiative to expand childcare provision found that the longer children were left in childcare facilities, the more disruptive they became.

Those in nurseries or similar centres for more than 30 hours or three days a week were more anti-social, more likely to tease other children and call them names, or to be bossy and want their own way, the report suggested. Youngsters who attended for 35 hours or more per week displayed yet more “worried and upset” behaviour. Read more