This was an interesting finding because average maternal stimulation
scores at 36 months were significantly higher in the continuous centrebased
care group than they were in other groups. Although mothers in
this group scored higher, their stimulation of language did not impact
their children’s language, suggesting a stronger impact of carers’
language stimulation in the childcare centres. On the other hand,
maternal stimulation at 36 months had a significant impact on
language ability at 36 months only when there was maternal care in
the first three years, such as for ‘continuous maternal care’ or
‘maternal to centre-based care’. This might mean that at 3 years old,
children equally benefit from either a stimulating environment in the
centre or a stimulating mother at home