Early Child Care and Child Cognitive and Socioemotional Development: Evidence From Chile

• In Event: Poster Session 8
  In Poster Session: Research in Early Education and Child Development

Abstract

There is little evidence for Chile about the benefit of attendance at centre-based care—especially for under-three-years-olds—and child development. This study explores the association between two-year-olds' attendance at day care and child development. Attendance at day care (versus maternal care) between the ages of 24 and 36 months is positively associated with child cognitive development and not significant associated with child socio-emotional development. In addition, more daily hours in centre-based is positively associated with cognitive outcomes, but negatively associated with socio-emotional outcomes. Finally, attendance at centre-based care is more negative for children of lower income households relative to children of higher income households. The analyses use a Chilean panel survey and use OLS regressions, fixed effects and propensity score matching techniques.

Author

• Marigen Narea, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile