Determinants of early childhood stimulation: Evidence using panel data from Chile.

• This paper examines the key determinants of early childhood stimulation provided by caregivers. • We focus on Chile, one of the most economically unequal countries in the world. • We use longitudinal survey data administered to a sample of 8251 infants. • The main predictors for less stimulation are low caregiver education and low-income. • Caregivers' personality traits are also highly relevant for early child stimulation. This paper examines the determinants of early childhood stimulation provided by caregivers using an ecological approach. The focus of our inquiry is on Chile, one of the most economically unequal countries in the world. We use data from the Longitudinal Early Childhood Survey conducted in 2010 and 2012, which contains information regarding infants aged 30 months on average (n = 8,251). Early childhood stimulation is examined using a multidimensional index that comprises three domains: caregivers' stimulation of cognitive-language, sensorimotor, and socio-emotional development. Our dynamic models show that the main factors that lead to less stimulation are low caregiver education, low-income households, and large families. Specifically, it was found that an additional child being born within a two-year period decreases stimulation, indicating possible competition between siblings due to time and resource restrictions in the household. Furthermore, caregivers' performance in personality (BFI) and linguistic intelligence (WAIS language) tests was found to be a more significant factor than operational memory. Taken together, these findings suggest the need for initiatives aimed at increasing equality in early childhood stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]