Parental Characteristics Associated with Childcare Use During the First 4 Years of Life: Results from a Representative Cohort of Quebec Families (Quantitative Research) (Clinical Report‪)‬

Evidence from interventional (e.g., High Scope Perry preschool, (1) Carolina Abecedarian Project, (2) Sure Start Local Programmes (3)) and prospective observational studies (4-8) showed that the provision of childcare to disadvantaged children could promote cognitive growth and academic success, thereby attenuating socio-economic inequalities in education. Although participation in childcare may bridge a gap in development created by social disadvantage, this beneficial effect may not be attained if disadvantage reduces the likelihood of participating in childcare. (9) Differences in childcare participation on the basis of education, family situation, family size, maternal age, maternal employment status and parenting style and beliefs have been reported elsewhere, (10-14) but these have not been studied in the context of a low-cost childcare system such as the one in place in the province of Quebec since 1997.