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The development and delivery of child care services in Canada has never been without controversy. Although stakeholders from opposing spheres of influence have battled for divergent demands, the concept that some form of support for child care falls within the realm of state responsibilities has been acknowledged for many decades.

This paper reviews studies that compare children with non-parental child care experience to children without this experience. Two major themes emerge from this review: first, the research does not support the view that participation in child care is harmful; and second, it is important that the child care experience is of high quality.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary

1 Context
Introduction
Selection of the studies
Contemporary realities
Future realities
The great debate
The purpose of this paper
The format of this paper

Originally a doctoral theses, this paper presents in an abridged form, Friesen's examination of the differences in quality between for-profit and non-profit child care centres the structural features that give rise to these differences.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface and Acknowledgements

This paper describes the purposes that can be served by child care services and illustrates how it can advance social and economic objectives of national importance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Executive Summary

Chapter I - Introduction
Context
A definition of child care
The purposes that can be served by child care services
The importance of quality in child care services