Characteristics and Quality of Child Care for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Authors:
  • NHNational Institute of Child Health
    National Institute of Child Health
  • HNHuman Development (NICHD) Early Child Care Research Network
    Human Development (NICHD) Early Child Care Research Network
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Abstract
In this article, we use data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care (NICHD Early Child Care Research Network, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999) to answer 3 questions. The first question is: What structural features and caregiver characteristics predict more positive caregiver behavior in child care for 1- to 3-year-old children? Positive caregiving was assessed in 5 types of care (centers, child-care homes, and care provided by in-home sitters, grandparents, and fathers) when children in the NICHD study were 15, 24, and 36 months of age (Ns = 612, 630, and 674). Across ages and types of care, positive caregiving was more likely when child-adult ratios and group sizes were smaller, caregivers were more educated, held more child-centered beliefs about childrearing, and had more experience in child care, and environments were safer and more stimulating. The second question is: What differences in caregiving are associated with the type of child care and the ...

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