Kids Do Better With Moms Home for the First Year

The children of mothers who work outside the home fulltime during the first year have poorer mental and verbal development at age 3 than those with stay-at-home mothers, according to a Columbia University study. A growing number of parents have found working at home to be a viable solution to the dilemma. An IDC consumer household survey found 10.7 million households where parents of dependent children work at home.

     The children of mothers who work outside the home fulltime during the first year have poorer mental and verbal development at age 3 than those with stay-at-home mothers, according to a Columbia University study. The research found that mothers could reduce the harmful effects by providing better quality childcare. The best childcare is described as having one caregiver to one or two infants, hardly a realistic solution for most.
     So what's a new mother to do? Working mothers aren't willfully harming the development of their children, but they're in a tough spot. It's a simple matter of economics; most parents have to work. The Labor Department reports that 53% of mothers with children under the age of one are working mothers.
     A growing number of parents have found working at home to be a viable solution to the dilemma. An IDC consumer household survey found 10.7 million households where parents of dependent children work at home.
     Lynie Arden, a national expert on the subject, has been studying the phenomenon for two decades. She also successfully worked at home while raising three daughters. "I have people contacting me from all over wanting to know how they can stay home to work," says Arden. "Most of them are parents trying to figure out how to make a living and still have time to spend with their kids."
     According to Arden, if people really want to work at home, they can. "I'm always surprised to see just how many kinds of jobs are being done at home," she says. Arden's classic reference for home workers, The Work-at-Home Sourcebook (www.workathomesourcebook.com), bears that out. The newest edition provides details on over 1,200 specific opportunities for working at home.
     For many, working at home will be a dream come true. But, Arden warns, it's not for everybody no matter how much you want the obvious benefits. "You have to be one of those above average individuals who know how to manage themselves without being told what to do and when."
     She also notes that home workers must avoid trying to mix work with their personal family lives, which is ironic considering that is the point for most people." To make it work, you must have your own space and time exclusively for your job. Yes, you will have more time with your children, but you can't give full-time attention to both at the same time."
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