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Early childhood education has been linked to children’s positive social and emotional well-being, but it also exposes them to infections. (File photo)
Children who attend early childhood education have better social outcomes than their stay-at-home peers, but are more likely to get sick, according to a study.
The study was conducted by AUT and the University of Auckland, using data for the Growing up in New Zealand longitudinal study.
Parental reports on PCE attendance, child behavior and illness were examined for more than 6,000 children born between 2009 and 2010, at the age of 9 months, 2 years and 4½ years.
The information was also linked to hospital records.
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Conducted prior to additional health and hygiene measures in the Covid-19 era, the study found that children who attend ECE have fewer emotional difficulties and better relationships with their peers.
Wellington’s mother Amanda Knight first attended Playcentre when her oldest son, Jack, was one and a half years old and her younger brother, Henry, now also attends.
Supplied
Amanda Knight playing with a child at Playcentre. She said the system had given her two sons social skills.
She said Stuff The main thing Henry got out of the system was social interaction, not just with his peers but with a variety of adults because Playcentre is a parent-led form of ECE.
His oldest son, Jack, has autism, and Knight said that going to the play center helped him become more comfortable with a variety of adults, helping him adjust to school.
As for the disease, she said her children did not get sick more often than she expected for their age.
Although the children shared illnesses, he said, the center had good hygiene practices and could usually contain anything that came up.
A study co-author, AUT Associate Professor Andrew Gibbons, said the findings suggested that attending ECE had some benefit for children’s social and emotional well-being.
La Rel Pascua / Unsplash
Children who attended ECE had a higher risk of contracting illnesses, including a higher risk of ending up in the hospital. (File photo)
But more research is needed to determine the effects of different types of early childhood education, child-teacher ratios, teacher qualifications, and working conditions.
The benefits of ECE have been frequently discussed in New Zealand.
“There has been considerable research on the effects of early childhood education on childhood behavioral illnesses and outcomes, but most of it comes from international studies, so it is good to have some relevant New Zealand-based research to inform the decision-making about ECE in this country.
“Hopefully, these findings suggest that early childhood services can contribute positively to the complex task of supporting young children’s healthy relationships with themselves and their peers.”
Dr Sarah Gerritsen, a co-author and researcher at the University of Auckland, said ECE did increase the risk of children contracting some common infections.
This included twice the risk of ear and chest infections for 9-month-olds and 1.5 times the risk of gastrointestinal infections (stomach bugs) compared to those receiving care at home.
Two-year-olds have more than twice the risk of ear infections and just under twice the risk of chest infections. The risk of contracting stomach bugs was also greater than that of those who were cared for at home.
Babies who attended centers and 2-year-olds who attended ECE for more than 30 hours a week were at increased risk of hospitalization due to infections.
“There is evidence that infections in early childhood can provide immunity against diseases later,” Gerritsen said.
But some infections were more serious. One in eight children in ECE in the study had been admitted to the hospital with a chest, ear, or gastro infection.
“This study was conducted prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, so now we would expect there to be additional surveillance on infection control and hygiene in ECE and schools, but it is a good reminder of the need for agencies to public health work closely with the early learning sector to reduce the spread of infections. ”
The study was commissioned by the research fund on children and families of the Ministry of Social Development.
