A study, which is soon to be presented at a conference of the Australian Institute of Family Studies and which was conducted by researchers at Charles Sturt University, has been asserting that parents can now remain blithe. Since, it is evident that even minute difference does not occur between babies cared formally and those seen at home.

Linda Harrison, who is an associate professor of early childhood, has told that behaviour and adjustments are all the same amongst two to three-year aged children, who are in childcare centres. Also, he says that the similarity is seen regardless of their families' socio-economic status.

Though, it is believed since a prolonged period that centre-based childcare during a baby's first year of life causes him to suffer adverse effects later. The research dubbed the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children has shown that all children were same when it came to enjoying activities or dealing with other children.

Also, tracking thousands of children and questioning their teachers and parents, Dr. Harrison and colleagues found only a single difference that those on mixed care at under one-year age were in more conflicts with childcare workers. However, performance level differed nowhere.

Dr. Harrison concluded, ''The biggest influence on children's academic achievement and behaviour remains family background rather than childcare".