It has been argued that an infant under three who is cared for outside the home may suffer because of the separation from his parents.
It
has
been
argued
that
an
infant
under
three
who
is
cared
for
outside
the
home
may
suffer
because
of
the
separation
from
his
parents
.
The British psychoanalyst John Bowlby believes that separation from the parents during the sensitive "attachment" period from birth to three may scar a child's personality and incline to emotional problems in later life.
The
British
psychoanalyst
John
Bowlby
believes
that
separation
from
the
parents
during
the
sensitive
``
attachment
''
period
from
birth
to
three
may
scar
a
child
's
personality
and
incline
to
emotional
problems
in
later
life
.
Some people have drawn the conclusion from Bowlby's work that children should not be sent to day care before the age of three, and many people do believe this.
Some
people
have
drawn
the
conclusion
from
Bowlby
's
work
that
children
should
not
be
sent
to
day
care
before
the
age
of
three
,
and
many
people
do
believe
this
.
But there are also arguments against such a strong conclusion.
But
there
are
also
arguments
against
such
a
strong
conclusion
.
Firstly, anthropologists point out that the hidden love between children and parents found in modem societies does not usually exist in traditional societies.
Firstly
,
anthropologists
point
out
that
the
hidden
love
between
children
and
parents
found
in
modem
societies
does
not
usually
exist
in
traditional
societies
.
For example, we saw earlier that among the Ngonis the father and mother of a child did not raise their infant alone.
For
example
,
we
saw
earlier
that
among
the
Ngonis
the
father
and
mother
of
a
child
did
not
raise
their
infant
alone
.
But traditional societies are so different from modern societies that comparisons based on just one factor are hard to understand.
But
traditional
societies
are
so
different
from
modern
societies
that
comparisons
based
on
just
one
factor
are
hard
to
understand
.
Secondly, common sense tells us that day care would not be so widespread today if parents and caretakers found that children had problems with it.
Secondly
,
common
sense
tells
us
that
day
care
would
not
be
so
widespread
today
if
parents
and
caretakers
found
that
children
had
problems
with
it
.
But Bowlby's analysis raises the possibility that early day care has delayed effects.
But
Bowlby
's
analysis
raises
the
possibility
that
early
day
care
has
delayed
effects
.
The possibility that such care might lead to more mental illness or crime 15 or 20 years later can only be noticed by the use of statistics.
The
possibility
that
such
care
might
lead
to
more
mental
illness
or
crime
15
or
20
years
later
can
only
be
noticed
by
the
use
of
statistics
.
Statistical studies of this kind have not yet been carried out, and even if they were, the results would be certain to be complicated and controversial.
Statistical
studies
of
this
kind
have
not
yet
been
carried
out
,
and
even
if
they
were
,
the
results
would
be
certain
to
be
complicated
and
controversial
.
Thirdly, in the last decade, there have been a number of careful American studies of children in day care, and they have reported that day care had a neutral of slightly positive effect on children's development.
Thirdly
,
in
the
last
decade
,
there
have
been
a
number
of
careful
American
studies
of
children
in
day
care
,
and
they
have
reported
that
day
care
had
a
neutral
of
slightly
positive
effect
on
children
's
development
.
But tests that have had to be used to measure this development are not widely enough accepted to settle the issue.
But
tests
that
have
had
to
be
used
to
measure
this
development
are
not
widely
enough
accepted
to
settle
the
issue
.
It has been argued that an infant under three who is cared for outside the home may suffer because of the separation from his parents. The British psychoanalyst John Bowlby believes that separation from the parents during the sensitive "attachment" period from birth to three may scar a child's personality and incline to emotional problems in later life. Some people have drawn the conclusion from Bowlby's work that children should not be sent to day care before the age of three, and many people do believe this. But there are also arguments against such a strong conclusion.  Firstly, anthropologists point out that the hidden love between children and parents found in modem societies does not usually exist in traditional societies. For example, we saw earlier that among the Ngonis the father and mother of a child did not raise their infant alone. But traditional societies are so different from modern societies that comparisons based on just one factor are hard to understand.  Secondly, common sense tells us that day care would not be so widespread today if parents and caretakers found that children had problems with it. But Bowlby's analysis raises the possibility that early day care has delayed effects. The possibility that such care might lead to more mental illness or crime 15 or 20 years later can only be noticed by the use of statistics. Statistical studies of this kind have not yet been carried out, and even if they were, the results would be certain to be complicated and controversial.  Thirdly, in the last decade, there have been a number of careful American studies of children in day care, and they have reported that day care had a neutral of slightly positive effect on children's development. But tests that have had to be used to measure this development are not widely enough accepted to settle the issue.