Parent-provider communication in family day care homes
- 46 Downloads
- 6 Citations
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between licensed family day care home providers and the parents of the children in their care. Of specific interest are their daily communication and each group's perceptions of the relationship. The perspectives of both parents and providers are illuminated through open-ended interviews and on-site observations of their daily interactions. This study suggests that there may be little communication between providers and parents focused on the children's ongoing experiences and development in these day care homes, despite both groups' expressed beliefs in the importance of such communication. Even so, parents expressed complete satisfaction with their children's caregivers, although providers' feelings were more negative toward parents. These contradictions are discussed.
Keywords
Specific Interest Care Home School Psychology Ongoing Experience Daily InteractionPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
- Adler, P., & Adler, P. (1994). Observational techniques. In N.K. Denzin & Y.S. Lincoln (Eds.),Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 377–392). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
- Atkinson, A. (1986). Provider evaluations of the effects of family day care on own family relationships.Family Relations, 37, 399–404.Google Scholar
- Becher, R. (1986). Parent involvement: A review of research and principles of successful practice. In L. Katz (Ed.),Current Topics in Early Childhood Education, Vol. VI. (pp. 85–122). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.Google Scholar
- Bredekamp, S. (Ed.) (1987).Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children birth through age eight (expanded edition. Washington, D.C.: NAEYC.Google Scholar
- Davison, J., Ellis, W., & Colliver, J. (1980).Family day care the United States: Parent component. Final Report of the National Day Care Home Study, Volume IV. Washington, D.C.: Department of Health and Human Services.Google Scholar
- Denzin, N.K. (1989).The research act. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
- Denzin, N.K. (1994). The art and politics of interpretation. In N.K. Denzin & Y.S. Lincoln (Eds.),Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 500–515). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
- Douglas, J.D. (1985).Creative interviewing. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
- Eheart, B., & Leavitt, R. (1986). Training day care home providers: Implications for policy and research.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 1, 119–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Eheart, B., & Leavitt, R. (1989). Family day care: discrepancies between intended and observed caregiving practices.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 4, 145–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Fein, G. (1980). The informed parent. In S. Kilmer (Ed.),Advances in Early Education and Day Care, Vol. I, (pp. 155–185). Greenwich, CT: JAI.Google Scholar
- Fontana, A., & Frey, J. (1994). Interviewing: The art of science. In N.K. Denzin & Y.S. Lincoln (Eds.),Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 361–376). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
- Fosburg, S. (1981).Family Day Care in the United States: Summary of Findings. Final Report of the National Day Care Home Study, Vol. I. Washington, D.C.: Department of Health and Human Services.Google Scholar
- Fuqua, R., & Schieck, R. (1989). Child care resource and referral programs and parents' search for quality child care.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 4, 357–365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Galinsky, E., Howes, C., Kontos, S., & Shinn, M. (1994).The study of children in family, child care and relative care: Highlights of findings. New York: Families and Work Institute.Google Scholar
- Gilkerson, L., Nesphachel, S., & Trevino, R. (1987).Issues in family day care. Unpublished manuscript, Erikson Institute for Advanced Study in Child Development.Google Scholar
- Goelman, H., Rosenthal, M., & Pence, A. (1990). Family day care in two countries: Parents, caregivers, and children in Canada and Israel.Child and Youth Care Quarterly, 19(4) 251–270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Hofferth, S. (1989). What is the demand for and supply of child care in the United States?Young Children, 44(15), 28–33.Google Scholar
- Hofferth, S., & Kisker, E. (1992). The changing demographics of family day care in the United States. In D.L. Peters & A.E. Pence (Eds.),Family day care (pp. 28–57). NY: Teachers College Press.Google Scholar
- Hughes, R. (1985). The informal help-giving of home and center child care providers.Family Relations, 34, 359–366.Google Scholar
- Kontos, S. (1992).Family day care: Out of the shadows and into the limelight. Washington, D.C.: NAEYC.Google Scholar
- Kontos, S., Machida, S., Griffin, S., & Read, M. (1992). Training and professionalism in family day care. In D.L. Peters & A.E. Pence (Eds.),Family day care (pp. 188–208). NY: Teachers College Press.Google Scholar
- Kontos, S., Raikes, H., & Woods, A. (1983). Early childhood staff attitudes toward their parent clientele.Child Care Quarterly, 12 (1) 45–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Kontos, S., & Wells, W. (1986). Attitudes of caregivers and the day care experience of families.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 1 (1) 47–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Leavitt, R.L. (1991). Family day care licensing: Issues and recommendations.Child and Youth Care Forum, 20, 243–254.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Leavitt, R.L. (1989). Invisible boundaries: The tenuousness of parent-provider relationships. Presentation prepared for the symposium, Qualitative Research in Early Childhood Settings. Knoxville, TN.Google Scholar
- Maines, D. (1993). Narrative's moment and sociology's phenomenon: Toward a narrative sociology.Sociological Quarterly, 34(1) 17–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Mishler, E. (1986).Research interviewing. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
- Nelson, M.K. (1988). Providing family day care: An analysis of home-based work.Social Problems, 35(1), 78–94.Google Scholar
- Nelson, M. (1990).Negotiated care. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.Google Scholar
- Packer, M. (1985). Hermeneutic inquiry in the study of human conduct.American Psychologist, 40(10), 1081–1093.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Pence, A., & Goelman, H. (1987). Silent partners: parents of children in three types of day care.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 2(2) 103–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Powell, D. (1978). The interpersonal relationship between parents and caregivers in day care settings.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 48(4), 680–689.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Powell, D. (1980). Toward a sociological perspective of relations between parents and child care programs. In S. Kilmer (ed.),Advances in Early Education and Day Care, Vol. 1 (pp. 203–226). Greenwich, CT: JAI.Google Scholar
- Powell, D. (1989).Families and early childhood programs. Washington, D.C.: NAEYC.Google Scholar
- Powell, D., & Bollin, G. (1992). Dimensions of parent-provider relationships in family day care. In D.L. Peters & A.E. Pence (Eds.),Family day care (pp. 170–187). NY: Teachers College Press.Google Scholar
- Pugh, G. (1985). Parent-professional partnerships in preschool services: Issues and implications.Early Child Development and Care, 19, 219–235.Google Scholar
- Sartre, J.P. (1981).The family idiot: Gustave Flaubert, 1821–1857 (C. Cosman, Trans.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (Original work published 1971)Google Scholar
- Shimoni, R. (1992).Endemic ambiguity: The role of caregivers in relation to parents of children in day care. Unpublished doctoral dissertation: University of Calgary, Alberta.Google Scholar
- Singer, J., Fosburg, S., Goodson, B., & Smith, J. (1980).Family Day Care in the United States: Research Report. Final Report of the National Day Care Home Study, Vol. II. Washington, D.C.: Department of Health and Human and Services.Google Scholar
- Wolcott, H. (1990).Writing up qualitative research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar