Early childcare and family experiences predict development of prosocial behaviour in first grade

ABSTRACT

Using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care (n = 1364), we examined how experiences in early childcare (ECE) and in families from 6 to 54 months predicted the development of first-grade prosocial behaviour (PSB), a core component of social and emotional success. SEM analyses revealed several key pathways: (1) both ECE process quality and structural quality predicted later PSB, and the indirect path to PSB from ECE structural quality through process quality was significant; (2) indirect paths to PSB from family demographic factors (minority; income/education) through ECE process quality were also significant; (3) dynamic family processes predicted PSB directly, and indirect paths to PSB from family structure and demographics through family processes were significant; (4) ECE process quality predicted family dynamic qualities and the indirect path from ECE process quality to PSB through family dynamic processes was significant. Developmental and policy implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Childcare
• early childhood education
• prosocial behaviour
• family
• NICHD SECCYD

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Celia Brownell is a Professor of Psychology and studies early prosocial development, social/emotional understanding, and socialization.

Jesse Drummond earned his doctorate in Psychology studying early social development and social-emotional learning. He is currently a Senior Analyst for Maine General Health.

ORCID

Celia A. Brownell http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5826-8745

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Office of Planning Research & Evaluation, Administration for Children & Families [award number: 90YE0168-01-01].