Effects of Day Care and Home Quality on Children's Engagement and Development

Abstract

This study examined the effects of day care and  home quality both on children’s observed engagement with adults, peers, and objects, in day care classrooms, and on their cognitive, social and  language developmental outcomes. One hundred and twenty toddlers from Porto district, their families and teachers participated in the study. Results  showed  that child characteristics, daycare quality, and  teachers’ interactive behaviours influenced children’s engagement at different sophistication levels. Small effects of daycare quality on children’s developmental outcomes were found. Results indicated small to moderate effects of home quality on children’s developmental outcomes.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v23i2.327