Content area
Abstract
Chapter 5 presented a way for novice observers (e.g., parents and teachers) to assess the quality of child care settings, defined as many positive interactions between adults and children, few behavior problems, and high scores on cognitive and language tests.\n Consistent with the results of other analyses in this book, family variables (especially maternal sensitivity and depression, income, and the presence of two parents) were influ- ential whether or not children were in child care. Following the presentation of this volume of data providing remarkable answers to some of the most pressing questions concerning the effects of child care on children's relationships with their mothers and developmental outcomes, Chapter 29, entitled, "Families Matter - Even for Kids in Child Care," provided a discussion of the primary conclusion from the book: "Overall, the findings suggest that the role of families is not substantially weakened or changed with considerable child care experience in the earliest years" (p. 419).