Tuesday 10th February 2009 News Index

They tended to have wider vocabularies, but were also more likely to show 'problem behaviour' and find it harder to get on with other children, the researchers said.

They were also less likely to be ready for school, according to the study by the Institute of Education, a University of London research body.

The Institute found those sent to nurseries and playgroups had a better understanding of colours, letters, numbers, sizes, comparisons and shapes. They tracked 4,800 children of working mothers.

This contradicts earlier studies which found care by grandparents had links with happiness and security.

Earlier studies claim grandparents often developed almost as close a bond with children as parents and were able to give children one-to-one attention.

One Government-funded study found that toddlers put in daycare for long periods are significantly more likely to bully or tease other children - and to demand their own way.

Other Government-funded studies have found day nurseries and creches varied a great deal in quality, with bad ones linked to slower progress at school and behavioural problems.

This latest research, publicly-funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, surveyed working parents when their children were nine months old and again when they were three years old.

The three-year-olds were given basic tests of their vocabulary and readiness for school.

Youngsters who were being looked after by grandparents at nine months were considered at the age of three to have more behavioural problems, judging from parental interviews, than those who had been in the care of a nursery, creche, childminder or nanny.

This was a particular problem with boys, who often had problems getting on with other children.

But while youngsters were also considered generally less prepared for formal education, they tended to have wider vocabularies and more accurate speech.

Researchers suggested that while grandparents may have difficulties in providing physical activities for children, they make up for it with plenty of conversation.

Research director Dr Kirstine Hansen said: 'Our research shows that grandparent care contributes both positively and negatively to child outcome'.

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Your Comments
My daughter who is 2 and a half spends a lot of time with her gran .Since she was a baby when putting her clothes on she would say your putting on a white top and pink skirt which i thought at the time when chanel couldnt speak that my mum was going of her head,but as usual she was right now chanel can tell her colours good.Im learning her to say the name of her thing ie parada shoes ,red allstars but i can hounestly say she has learned a great deal while spending time with her but when chanel is 3 she will defently be going to nursery so she knows how to play and share with other kids	tallulla 31/08/2009
It depends on the grandparent - some are good at parenting and others defintely are not.	misty 24/04/2009
I dont think children were meant to spend as much time with nanny as they do now.My kids used to behave terrible when nanny had been as they got away with more.Nannies are meant to be soft,we all confided in our nanny.The children knew what the boundaries where, they just knew nanny wouldnt/couldnt uphold them!	gibbo 03/03/2009
My son goes to nursery 3 days a week and to grandparents one day a week. I think that he has the best all round. He spends time with both me and my partner, me alone, with friends of his own age and with his grandparents. I do not feel that he is any naughtier when he goes to grandparents as they ask me what he can and can't do beforehand so they know the boundaries. I find that my son is well balanced in his manners and he is a few different situations where he had several boundaries. He has his moments but these can be at home, at nursery, grandparents, supermarkets. He learns at all the places he attends in different ways and can communication with all people. I think that my son benefits from going to his grandparents and my parents enjoy their day with him as well.	shazzie 12/02/2009

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