Family day care: A theoretical basis for improving quality

Assessing quality in family child care homes using an index derived from a telephone survey

“…The correlation analyses and the ANOVA analyses indicated that education and specialized training were related to the FDCRS score. These findings were consistent with the previous finding that family child care providers with more training and education provided higher quality care (Pence & Goelman, 1991 ) and had family child care homes with higher global quality ratings (Burchinal et al, 2002;Fischer & Eheart, 1991). Therefore, policy makers who are making decisions on regulation for family child care homes may want to require that the family child care providers complete a one-year child development program and have at least 10 hours of child care-related training each year.…”

“…Fam//y CMd Care ProWders' Educaffon and Tra/n/ng Research evidence has shown that caregivers' training and education are related to children's cognitive and social play (Kontos et al, 1994) and higher quality of family child care services (Burchinal et al, 2002;Clarke-Stewart et al, 2002;Fischer & Eheart, 1991;Howes, 1983).…”

“…Caregivers with more training and education were found to provide more positive caregiving (Clarke-Stewart et al, 1994, 2002Stalllngs, 1980), were more responsive and demonstrated more social stimulations (Howes, 1983), or have family child care homes with higher global quality ratings (Burchinal et al, 2002, Fischer & Eheart, 1991. Research evidence has shown that caregivers who have higher levels of education were more likely to spend less time in group interactions with children (Rosenthal, 1991).…”

A profile of childminding: implications for planning

“…Although childminders in this survey felt they had someone to turn to if they needed help, around two thirds did not meet regularly with other childminders. Research has suggested that where childminders have access to support networks, the quality of care improves (Fischer and Eheart, 1991). Local childminding groups and associations, usually linked to the NCMA, can provide support and advice and may provide access to training opportunities and resources such as equipment loan schemes.…”

Parents' and educators' beliefs regarding their influence on preschool children's competencies

“…Specialized training in chfld care was associated with higher Early Chfldhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS, Harms & Clifford, 1980) scores among famfly chfld care providers (Fischer & Eheart, 1991).…”