A study of 13 624 families living in 10 different
cities provides a particularly persuasive demonstration
of the importance of the family. The children,
who were observed as infants and again at 3
years of age, had experienced varied forms of early
care. Some were in day care centers, some were in
family day care, and some were raised only at
home. The form of care outside the home had little
effect on the prevalence of problems with self-control,
compliance, and asocial behavior; variation
among the families was a critical determinant of
differences in these psychological traits.19