Is sensitive caregiving in child care associated with children's effortful control skills? An exploration of linear and threshold effects

• We tested for associations between sensitive caregiving in child care and effortful control skills.
• We explored both linear and threshold effects.
• Results suggest effortful control is sensitive to thresholds of caregiver sensitivity.
• Specifically, associations were only found for children in highest quality care.
• Implications for future research and policy initiatives are discussed.

This study examined associations between caregiver sensitivity and responsiveness in child care experienced at age 4 and children's effortful control skills at age 5, among 154 preschoolers who attended community-based child care settings. Sensitive caregiving was measured using a modified version of the Observational Ratings of the Caregiving Environment and children's effortful control skills were assessed using both a parent questionnaire and a laboratory assessment. Results suggest that effortful control is sensitive to thresholds of caregiver sensitivity. Specifically, positive associations between caregiver sensitivity and effortful control skills a year later were observed only for children in settings with relatively high-quality caregiver sensitivity. These findings suggest that supporting the development of children's effortful control skills may require exposure to child care that exceeds typical levels of caregiving quality experienced by young children in the United States.