[smackay]

The article does not mention it but where are the kids when the mother is at work? More than likely this is in day-care rather than in the home of another family member (most likely the grandparents). The likelihood is that the kids are in a richer environment, materially and socially. When you mix in the added benefit of parents not having spent all day dealing with the childens' needs then it's no surprise that generally they are able to devote more attention to them.

None of this is the direct benefit of a parent being at work. You would probably see all these advantages if one of the parents simply stayed at home, while the kids were in day-care. But where is the money going to come from for that.

[fulafel]

This is also a good argument for providing free or heavily subsidized daycare to children whose parents are unemployed or outside the workforce.

[danieltillett]

What argument?

[fulafel]

This:

> [In day-care] the likelihood is that the kids are in a richer environment, materially and socially.

Think single parent suffering from mental health issues and unable to work, or other disadvantaged stimulus poor domestic environment.