The parent-child relationship is crucial for both parties. Daycare is thought to often interfere with this vital relationship. I chose to explore the effects of daycare on the parent-child relationship. I did this, in part, because I see this relationship frequently due to my job at a daycare. This topic is anthropologically interesting because the primary providers of child care are now often professional centers rather than families. In the past, children's education was provided by the child's parents or close family. This new dimension of childcare adds an interesting element to family ties and their strength, or lack thereof. Professional daycare centers are also a much debated and studied topic. Throughout the research, both positives and negatives were found regarding the topic of daycare, particularly the parent-child relationship. Typically, the effects of daycare are overshadowed by the effects of parenting. Will this continue to be the case with daycares gaining ground by starting to be open 24 hours a day in some locations? Historically, children have been cared for and raised by the family, either by parents or extended family. More recently, due to increasing economic and social pressure, both parents have joined the workforce. This leaves child care to extended family or professional caregivers. The increase in professional caregivers has raised questions about child development. One of these questions concerns the parent-child relationship. The parent-child relationship is historically the most influential relationship in a child's life. Not all parent-child relationships are strong or positive, but they are still the most influential in a child's life. There are four...... middle of paper ......opment 66.2 (1995): 474. Web.Lewin, Tamar. “3 new studies assess the effects of child care.” The New York Times. The New York Times, November 1, 2005. Web. April 11, 2013.Lundy, Brenda. “Paternal socio-psychological factors and infant attachment: the mediating role of synchronization in father-child interactions.” Infant Behavior and Development 25.2 (2002): 221-36. Web.Magana, Lynette C., Judith A. Myers-Walls and Dee Love. “Different Types of Parent-Child Relationships.” PPP: Family-Child Relations. Purdue University, 2006. Web. April 10, 2013. Peterson, Carole and Richard Peterson. “Parent-child interaction and daycare: Does the quality of daycare matter?” » Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 7.1 (1986): 1-15. Web.Shpancer, N. “The Effects of Daycare: Enduring Questions, Elusive Answers.” Early Childhood Research Quarterly 21.2 (2006): 227-37. Internet.