High quality child care has a lot of benefits, such as development of social and cognitive skills, and research suggests it may make it less likely a child struggles with depression as an adult.

The study followed 57 children at one of the nation’s best child care programs –
Abecedarian early intervention – and 54 in a control group. When researchers screened members of both groups when they reached the age of 21, a higher rate met criteria for depression in the control group than in the Abecedarian group, 37 percent compared to 26 percent, according to the issue brief produced by the FPG Child Development Institute at University of North Carolina.

Of course, the Abecedarian project, which was established in the early 1970s, is ranked along with the HighScope Perry program as one of the best in the country for low-income families. Still, the data is worth considering because, as the issue brief points out, families struggling with poverty often deal with depression at home.

These findings demonstrate that good early childhood experiences can make a difference in the mental health of individuals born into poverty and underscore the importance of investing in high quality early childhood experiences for poor children. – “Can Child Care Impact Risk for Depression?” FPG Child Development Institute. 5/2007. (I know the report is four years old, but I have not seen its findings widely publicized. It appears to be an area that could benefit from more research.)

Thanks to Child Care and Early Education Connections for highlighting this brief.

New Healthy Campaign for Child Care:First Lady Michelle Obama announced a new health campaign for child care providers today. Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Child Care is centered on a checklist of healthy nutrition, screen time and physical activity practices. The campaign, which is part of Obama’s Let’s Move! effort to fight childhood obesity, has already signed up 1,600 child care providers, NWCN.com reports. The Defense Department, General Services Administration and Bright Horizons Child Care have joined the effort.