A comparison of preschool behaviors with peers when children enroll in child-care as infants or older children

Abstract

Ninety-six children (47 girls) and their mothers participated in a study designed to examine the influences and interactions of maternal attachment security and age enrolled in child-care on children's social competence with peers. Children entered child-care arrangements that included peer contacts as infants (n = 37); 3-year-olds (n = 37); 4-year-olds (n = 10) or never (n=12). The security of the children's maternal attachment was assessed at ages 12 and 48 months. Children's social competence with peers was assessed at age 4 years in a playgroup of unfamiliar peers and in child-care. Children with more secure infant maternal attachments and with earlier child-care enrolment were more socially competent. There were no main effects for 4-year-old maternal attachment. Children with less secure 4-year-old maternal attachments were more socially competent if they enrolled earlier in child-care.