Study Shows Kids in Daycare More Likely to Be Aggressive

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Study Shows Kids in Daycare More Likely to Be Aggressive

 

Encoded: Wed. 7/16/2003 @ 11:24pm

 

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Study Shows Kids in Daycare More Likely to Be Aggressive

Jul. 16, 2003

 

A federal study shows the more time young children spend in daycare, the

more likely they are to be overly -aggressive by the time they get to

kindergarten.

 

But some researchers caution it's important to consider the study carefully,

so as not to draw faulty conclusions.

 

News Specialist Samantha Hayes has our report.

 

The study's most controversial finding is that some children who spend more

than 30 hours a week in daycare are more demanding, more non-compliant and

more aggressive.

 

Most of these kids spend a lot more then 30 hours a week in daycare...

 

Some come in at 6:30 in the morning...and don't leave until after 5:00.

 

But caregivers are balking at the suggestion that long days contribute to

aggressive behavior in some youngsters.

 

Karin Raso makes her observations after 19 years in daycare-she says

children have more stress factors but she has not noticed an increase in

aggression.

 

¶SOT " KARIN RASO/NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE: I TRULY THINK YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE KIDS

WHO ARE AGGRESSIVE, YOU WILL HAVE KIDS WHO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND ARE ABLE TO

GET ALONG AND ARE ABLE TO GET ALONG WITH OTHER KIDS. "

 

" SAMANTHA HAYES/EYEWITNESS NEWS: PSYCHOLOGISTS WARN THOUGH THAT HOURS SPENT

AT DAYCARE IS ONLY ONE FACTOR WHEN CONSIDERING AGGRESSION IN YOUNG

CHILDREN. "

 

" DOUGLAS GOLDSMITH/PH.D: MANY OF THESE KIDS ARE BEING EXPOSED TO AGGRESSIVE

TELEVISION, AGGRESSIVE GAMES, AGGRESSION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, OLDER PEERS,

FIGHTING BETWEEN PARENTS, ANYTIME WE ARE MODELING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE

TROUBLE WITH THE CHILDREN. "

 

And in some cases, the level of aggression is startling.

 

" DOUGLAS: THESE KIDS ARE THROWING CHAIRS AND BREAKING TOYS, BITING CHILDREN

THROUGH THE SKIN, OUR LEVEL OF AGGRESSION IN OUR DAYCARES ACROSS THE VALLEY

IS FAIRLY SERIOUS. "

 

Whether aggressive behavior becomes violent behavior is hard to tell.

 

For the 2001-2002 school year, the Utah Board of Education reports 34

incidents of aggravated assault in elementary age children.

 

In the 1997-98 school year-328 incidents.

 

Bottom line-no matter what the reason, early intervention of aggressive

behavior is key.

 

" DOUGLAS GOLDSMITH: THE PRIMARY CONCERN WE HAVE ABOUT AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IS

ONCE IT IS ESTABLISHED IN A CHILD, THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IT IS VERY

DIFFICULT TO GET RID OF IT. "

 

Caregivers also say that speech impediments, language barriers, fatigue, and

chronic illness contribute to acting out.

 

And of course, the quality of the daycare center.

 

Reporting live, Samantha Hayes Eyewitness News.