Parents’ perspectives on child care quality and satisfaction in Taiwan

Abstract

Parents are important stakeholders when demanding quality child care services, and it is necessary to take parents' perspectives on child care quality seriously. The purpose of this study was to investigate Taiwanese parents' perceptions regarding the importance of quality, and satisfaction with preschools based on participants' demographic characteristics, child's ages, and types of schools. Convenience sampling was utilized in this study. Data were collected from 810 participants with at least one three-to five-year-old child enrolled in one of 20 preschools in Taiwan. The instrument identified parental perceptions of quality and satisfaction with child care programs were categorized into seven domains: Program Characteristics, Teacher Characteristics, Interactions, Curriculum, Safety and Health, Physical Environment, and Evaluation. Health and safety issues tended to be more important in determining parental ratings for quality and satisfaction when children were enrolled preschool programs. There were no significant differences on parental ratings of the importance of quality among parental demographic characteristics and child's ages, and only significant difference by children's types of schools. Overall, results showed parents were satisfied with their current preschool programs. The findings have implications for parents, practitioners, and policy makers; for example, parents' education; Parent-Teacher partnerships; and effective communication for teacher-parent interactions. Recommendations for future research were addressed.

Working Mothers’ Social-Economic Factors and Perceptions of Childcare Service Quality in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

“…The study findings suggest that high-income levels motivate working mothers to send their children to childcare centres of their choice, which are expected to provide quality service; hence, most of them tend to be satisfied with the service quality of childcare centres. The results concur with the findings of Jang et al (2014) and Torquati et al (2011). The findings are also in line with those of Suppramaniam et al (2019), who point out that the relationship between school popularity and parents' income levels had a significant impact on private school selection.…”

“…The study finding is conformist to the literature of Jang et al (2014), Mgata (2017) and Torquati et al (2011), which reported the direct relationship between child's age and childcare service quality perception in the education sector. Jang et al (2014) findings revealed that parents of three-and four-year-old children reported more satisfaction with childcare services. Keiningham et al (2006) findings show that parents' satisfaction was most important in retaining children, especially when they were very young (up to one year).…”

“…Studies have been conducted on the factors that influence parents' satisfaction with childcare services. Jang et al (2014) found that parents of three-year-olds rated program and teacher characteristics more favorably than parents of five-year-olds. Similarly, Keiningham et al (2006) found that the satisfaction of working mothers positively impacted childcare service retention for parents of very young children (1 year of age).…”

Centre-based childcare crisis amid economic turmoil in Sri Lanka: Advocating for equitable quality, accessibility, and affordability

“…Research consistently emphasises the importance of the quality of centre-based childcare and its direct impact on parent views and satisfaction (4,14). Positive interactions between teachers and children are crucial for parental satisfaction.…”

Preschool attendance of very young children: Parents’ choice and outcome satisfaction

“…Poor results are consistent with similar studies abroad. Mothers education and marital status are demographic characteristics the importance of which in the parents´ preschool choice has been proved in countries as diverse as Taiwan (Jang, Moore, & Lin, 2014), Italy (Scopelliti & Musati, 2013) or the United states (Fantuzzo, Perry, & Childs, 2006).…”