Children do less well at school if mum returns to work

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Children do less well at school if mum returns to work

by Rose Bradford Nov 2nd 2010

A major new study has found that children are less likely to do well at school

if their mums return to work within a year of their birth.

The findings, publicised by the Daycare Trust charity who campaign for

cost-effective childcare, revealed that children whose mums went back to work

during the first year of their life fared worse in formal exams and showed signs

of being more disruptive.

The study was undertaken by Macalester College, Minnesota, and the University of

California and examined 69 separate studies carried out worldwide since 1960. It

found that the impact on children differed according to the family's class and

structure.

The research found that children from middle-class and two-parent families were

more likely to be affected negatively than youngsters from working-class or

single-parent families. Middle-class and upper-class children suffered more if

their mothers returned to work within their first three years. The report said

this was 'significantly associated with decreases in formal measures of

achievement'

But Anand Shukla, the acting chief executive of the Daycare Trust said it was

wrong to say that having a working mum was bad for children:

'We note in particular the benefits for both low income and lone parent

families,' he said. 'But it is important parents are able to rely on high

quality, affordable childcare. Benefits of a year's paid parental leave – which

Daycare Trust has called for – are also borne out by this research.'