Authors:
Hancock, K.; Lawrence, D.; Mitrou, F.; Zarb, D.; Berthelsen, D.; Nicholson, J. M.; Zubrick, S. R.
Authors notes:
Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. 2012;37(2):72-81
Keywords:
Children, playgroup, socio-economic, learning, social-emotional
Abstract
The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children is used to examine the associations between playgroup participation and the outcomes for children aged four to five years.
Controlling for a range of socio-economic and family characteristics, playgroup participation from birth to three years was used to predict learning competence and social-emotional functioning outcomes at age four-five years.
Despite data limitations, this study provides evidence that continued participation in playgroups is associated with better outcomes for children from disadvantaged families.