Childcare: there is no substitute for loving parents
As long ago as 1760 a Spanish bishop reported that many babies in foundling homes died of “sadness”.
In more recent times, in the 1930s, there was much research into the effects of maternal deprivation. Children in orphanages, foundling homes, psychiatric facilities, hospitals and those separated from their families throughout Europe because of war were studied by many eminent professionals. The emotional damage caused by early separation was found to be severe in all of these studies.
One psychologist noticed huge IQ differences between children in foster homes and children in institutions. He placed 13 babies with feebly-minded girls from the same institution. Over 19 months, the babies’ IQ went from an average of 64 up to 92 such was their emotional need for attachment. Also as a result of the studies, parents were encouraged to stay with their sick children in hospitals.
In the early 1990s, there was so much controversy in the western world over childcare and crèches that the US, British and other governments decided to invest heavily in studies to find out whether nursery care was harmful and, if so, under what circumstances?
The US National Institute of Child and Health Development studied more than 1,000 children in 10 locations. The UK Effective Provision of Pre-School Education studied 3,000 babies.
The findings revealed that something is given by loving parents in one-to-one care that can’t be substituted. Quality childcare, while important, was not the hoped-for panacea because it was ‘stranger care’ and the most important finding was that good parenting and maternal sensitivity were best for babies’ emotional wellbeing.
Group care for children too early, too much and for too long is not good, but less is better.
These studies did not give the governments the results they wanted.
Added to the abundance of psychological research, experts in neurology, biochemistry, endocrinology and psychiatry have come to the same conclusion.
What babies need most is affection. Love is the growth ingredient for the human brain.
In the early 1990s, babies in Romanian orphanages who did not receive affection in their first three years were found to have underdeveloped brains because of lack of love and stimulation.
Research by Prof Michael Lamb of Cambridge on the disturbing levels of stress shown by young children during their first few months, after separating from their mothers and starting in childcare, was publicised in Britain recently.
With such awareness there is now a surplus of childcare places in England and in Nordic countries.
In Ireland, however, the Government is hell-bent on creating more places in crèches and getting both parents out to work.
Increasing parental leave, flexible working hours, guaranteed job security and a reasonable allowance would help parents in the choices they make with regard to the minding of their children.
In the words of John Bowlby, who is a major influence in this area, “when you have a baby you have five years of hard labour ahead of you. If you don’t get it over at the beginning, you’ve got it coming to you later”.
Jim Jackman
16 Park Drive Court
Castleknock
Dublin 15
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