Nursery children 'grow up naughty'

by LAURA CLARK, Daily Mail

Toddlers sent to nurseries or childminders grow up with less self-control than those brought up by their mothers at home, a major study has revealed.

The longer infants spend in care the more likely they are to throw tantrums or misbehave at school, researchers found.

The U.S. findings, based on 17,000 youngsters, add to the growing evidence that a generation handed over to childcare will struggle as they grow up.

In the past, mothers waited until just before their child went to school before returning to work, but now many go back within months of the birth.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas noted how long a child spent in daycare, and the age they were first sent there.

When they were five and seven, the children were assessed by their parents and teachers, who looked at their self-control, interpersonal skills and attitude to learning.

Children placed in daycare for more than 30 hours a week and who started before they were a year old were most likely to behave badly and lack self-control.

Those in daycare for between ten and 30 hours also displayed some troubled behaviour. Those who spent between one and ten hours in daycare were actually slightly better behaved than those looked after by their parents full-time.

The study found that children in daycare were better prepared for formal classes and outperformed stay-at-home classmates in reading and maths tests at the age of five.

However, this advantage had evaporated by the time they were seven. The findings call into question the Government's policies aimed at persuading new mothers to go back to work.

They will also concern families who spend up to £900 a month on private childcare.