Child Care Policy: Characteristics and Associations with Children's Development

Most young children in the United States regularly receive care by someone other than their parents. Children require nurturing, consistent care to form high quality relationships with a small number of adults that buffer stress and provide the security they need to stay on a positive developmental trajectory. This article presents a conceptual framework for linking child care policy and practice to short- and longer-term outcomes for children and families. We also present research on how key characteristics of child care, including type of care, stability and continuity, quantity, and quality, are associated with children's outcomes.