| Show Find out what quality child care car means Children from low income families may off in child care centers than at home Car Howes Contributing Writer THE HE question of whether her children ought to be in a achild child care center has become obsolete More than half of the themo mo mothers hers of infants one year old and younger are now in inthe inthe inthe the paid labor force and tr trends ds indicate that this percentage will increase In addition 20 years of research on child care allayed the fear that non- non maternal care is harmful to children To the contrary the overwhelming message was that children in quality care show no signs of harm Children from low-income low families may a actually show improved improved improved im im- im- im proved development But the key is quality care Quality by its nature is a fuzzy concept No one feels this more acutely than parents who ask How can I know what's right for my child Most observers observers observers ob ob- ob- ob servers of child care will wiIl readily acknowledge that certain char char- go together For example example example ex ex- ex- ex ample quality high-quality university- university run centers are likely to have a high level of teacher training larger space per child and good staff child ratios Researchers have rated quality according to three main categories group composition and staff qualifications childrens children's daily ces and aspects of the program such as setting and staff stability Definitions of unacceptable circumstances s vary greatly from state to state Some states con sider four infants to be the maximum maximum maximum maxi maxi- mum number for acceptable care while in other states ten infants infants infants in in- per caregiver is permitted child Adult-child ratios are important important important tant indicators Small groups of children help teachers to be bemore bemore bemore more effective and sensitive as caregivers Through games talking and singing and physical con contact tact caregivers can offer children opportunities to socialize socialize socialize so so- and to acquire a sense of security and self The number of children with whom each provider can engage in a stimulating and caring fashion is obviously limited With too many children to care for the providers provider's attention for each child becomes limited to feeding feeding feeding feed feed- ing and diaper Teachers themselves become stressed by their jobs when handling too many children Caregiver training education education education tion and experience are crucial The skills that a person brings to a job affect the quality of his hisor hisor hisor or her performance no less less' inthe in inthe inthe the child care setting than in any other profession There is ample evidence th that specialized training is associated associated associated as as- with quality care Caregivers in centers and family day care h homes mes with more training have been found to be more involved and responsive to children than other caregivers Better educated and trained caregivers are more likely to tobe tobe tobe be warm sensitive and responsive and to provide developmentally appropriate activities Provider training is associated a ted with more teaching teaching teaching teach teach- ing helping dramatic play and interaction with children Infants and toddlers must receive secure relationships A baby's sense of security depends on the stability of caregivers Dependable Dependable Dependable De De- De- De relationships are fostered by caregivers who are warm warm sensitive and regularly there the e for them A child who forms a caring relationship with his or her provider is better able to make the transition from home The caregiver becomes a secure base A change in caregivers can be bevery bevery bevery very painful for a young child quality High-quality child care costs more money to provide than does quality low-quality child care quality High-quality child care programs spend a larger percentage percentage percentage per per- of their budgets to attract attract attract at at- tract and keep well-educated well trained caregivers s. s When considering considering considering con con- the costs of child care remember the beneficiaries of our fiscal policies are children who deserve care Carollee Howes is is is' Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education UCLA This article originally appeared in Child Care Gare Action News May 7 1992 T r 1 J |
