The Impact of Maternal Education on Children’s Enrollment, Article Critique Example

Synopsis

The study on the effects of maternal education on the enrollment of children in early childhood education and care utilized data from the National Housing Survey for a  span of fourteen years and children ranging from the ages of zero to fives years, to determine the impacts of a mother’s  education, and other child and family traits (Greenberg, 2011). A Multinomial Logit Analysis was used to highlight the impacts of a mother’s education on the chances of a child being enrolled in a particular type of a care arrangement comprising both official and unofficial environments. Results from the study showed that children from privileged backgrounds, even those under the age of tree years are enrolled in advanced environments that give them a head start when they commence school compared to those from less privileged backgrounds (Greenberg, 2011).

Summary

By keeping other factors constant, this study analyses the how the level of a mother’ education influences the enrollment of children. Although the study used children aged below five years, they were divided into two groups made up of those between zero to two years and those between three to five years. This was based on the diversity of the needs of the two groups. Previous studies have shown the importance of a mother’s education on the development and welfare of a child. Mothers with sufficient education are well equipped with knowledge of the needs of children that boost them academically (Cavanaugh et al, 2009).   Data used in the study was taken from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which collects information on the educational behaviors of American populations (Davis-Kean, 2005). Results showed that a majority of mothers with less than a high school education enrolled their children in informal care, while a majority of mothers with college education as the minimum enrolled their children in formal care. The results further outline the importance of maternal education on the type of education and care that a child receives. The outcomes of this study are in line with previous studies that have emphasized the importance of maternal education on the accomplishments of her children.

References

Augustine, J. M., Cavanaugh, S. E., & Crosnoe, R. (2009). Maternal education, early child care and the reproduction of advantage. Social Forces, 88(1), 1?30.

Davis-Kean, P. E. (2005). The influence of parent education and family income on child achievement: The indirect role of parental expectations and the home environment. Journal of Family Psychology, 19(2), 294?304.

Greenberg, P.J. (2011). The impact of maternal education on children’s enrollment in early childhood education and care. Children and Youth Services Review 33, 1049–1057