Do Working Moms Put Their Kids at a Disadvantage?

I believe when people discuss the impact of working mothers on their children, the discussion is really about daycare’s affects on children.   Some scholars and much of the media seems reluctant to report any findings that suggest that daycare has a negative impact on children. 

Parents need to hear the truth about the effects of daycare so that they can make informed decisions about their and their children’s lives.  The sheer bulk of research on daycare makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions, but the weight of the evidence suggests that children placed in daycare centers for long periods of time are more likely to exhibit problems, including behavioral disorders and attachment disorders, than their peers who are raised at home.  Children in higher quality daycare are less likely to suffer any ill effects, and may enjoy some benefits from increased socialization.

The research on daycare doesn’t mean that women ought to quit their jobs and return home to mother their children full-time.  There are notable benefits to having mom in the workforce, such as a higher household income, but those benefits need to be weighed against the potential downsides of daycare.

Parents ought to be aware of the existing research as they weigh whether and how much to work.  Awareness of these issues may encourage some mothers to take different jobs that allow more time at home, even if they provide lower pay.  For other women, awareness of these issues won’t change their decisions to work, but may make them more vigilant about looking for warning signs in their children for problem behaviors.