The Effect of Daycare on the Parent-Child Relationship

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The parent-child relationship is crucial for both parties. Daycare centers are believed to often interfere with this vital relationship. I have chosen to explore the effects of daycare on the parent-child relationship. I have done this, in part, because I see this relationship on a frequent basis due to my employment at a daycare center. This topic is anthropologically interesting because the primary care givers of children are now often professional centers rather than family. When in the past, the child rearing was done by the child’s parents or close family. This new dimension of childhood care adds an interesting element to familial bonds and their strength, or lack of. Professional daycare centers are also a very debated and researched topic. Throughout the research, positives and negatives have been found in the topic of daycare centers, in particular the parent-child relationship. Generally, the effects of daycare are trumped by the effects of parenting. Will this still be the case with daycare centers gaining ground by, beginning available in some places 24 hours?

Historically, children have been cared for and raised by family, either parents or extended family. More recently because of growing economic and social pressure, both parents have been entering the work force. This puts the job of childcare onto extended family or professional caregivers. The increase in professional child caregivers has raised questions in child development. One of these questions is about the parent child relationship. The parent-child relationship is historically the most influential in child’s life. Not all parent-child relationships are strong nor positive, but they still remain the most influential in a child’s life. There are four...

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