The day-care debate continues

Parents may forget about their child's day-care experiences as soon their son or daughter moves onto kindergarten and they no longer have to pay the preschool bill. But results of a long-term study released Monday suggest that kids who spend lots of time in day care may show the behavioral effects almost until adolescence.

Children who were reported by teachers to be somewhat aggressive, disobedient or argumentative were more likely to have spent more of their early years in child-care centers. Those behaviors were less likely to show up in children who had spent more of their time with sitters or nannies or in child-care in homes.

For working parents, this could be yet another opportunity for self-flagellation. And it could be a free kick from those sideline critics who preach parents staying home with their kids, period -- blissfully ignoring the fact that many desperately long to do so but can't afford to.

The point of this research by the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development isn't finger-pointing, but acknowledgement that 4 million children under five are now in care centers or preschools -- almost as many as being cared for by a relative -- and the economic demands of modern life mean that number won't be shrinking any time soon.

Like it or not, that's reality.Dealing with that reality means figuring out how much care is too much care, what kind of care is most beneficial -- and then helping parents keep their children's best interests at the center while they juggle home, family and work.