“This well-organized volume begins with a much-needed and well-articulated overview of the original NICHD study design....A major strength of this volume is the abridged chapters, eliminating any redundancy....Given the purpose of this volume as a resource and a vehicle for disseminating what the NICHD research network felt was the most important information from the first phase of the NICHD study, it can be stated without reservation that its purpose was fulfilled and its contribution to the field is invaluable....Has immeasurable utility and vast applicability for individuals interested in dynamic interplay among family, child care, and early childhood development. Without doubt, this book should be considered a must have in most personal and institutional libraries.”

—Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology


“This is a landmark book and should be read by all who make decisions about day care. The topic is one of immense importance and will be of great interest to writers of textbooks and of books on parent-child relations. Its contents range broadly, going beyond day care to other concerns in the field of child development.”

—PsycCRITIQUES


“This 'must-read' volume describes one of the most comprehensive and innovative child development studies of the last 20 years. It brings together, for the first time, essential findings on how child care quality, family environment, and parenting together contribute to a child’s life chances. The authors provide a compelling story of young children’s experiences today and the challenges facing parents as they make choices about work and care. Psychologists, social scientists, and policymakers concerned with early childhood education, family social policy, and pediatric health will find this book extremely valuable.”

—Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, PhD, Teachers College and College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University


“The NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development is a critically important milestone in the science of human development. The results compellingly illustrate the powerful roles of child care experience and family dynamics in shaping human adaptation and development. The results also offer a somber warning on the developmental consequences of poor-quality out-of-home care, which is all too prevalent in the United States. This book can and should influence every child care provider, parent, and policymaker to strive for an improvement in the quality of child care and of family social policy.”

—Craig T. Ramey, PhD, Center on Health and Education, Georgetown University


“This book is a badly needed compilation and interpretation of the multifaceted results of the landmark NICHD study of child care in America. This is not only the single most important study of child care ever done, but it was undertaken by a group of extremely knowledgeable scholars. Their willingness to explore conventional as well as controversial issues concerning the effects of early care experiences on the developing child makes this volume a treasure.”

—Edward Zigler, PhD, Department of Psychology (Emeritus), Yale University