Determinants of Preschool Choice: Understanding How Middle-income Parents Choose Kindergartens in Shanghai

Abstract

This study aims to explore the determinants of preschool choice among middle-income parents in Shanghai, the city with the most adequate and diversified preschool services in China. We administer an online survey to 333 Shanghai middle-income parents and find that preschool quality, children’s development, and parents’ needs constitute the determinants of preschool choice. Furthermore, the parents are primarily concerned about program quality and the development of children’s self-care abilities. Among them, 226 parents are very satisfied with the kindergarten they chose, 99 parents are satisfied, eight are generally satisfied, and none reports feeling dissatisfied. There are significant effects of preschool type, parental jobs, and parental education level on parental satisfaction. Those emerging middle-income parents can only send their children to second-level preschools, which are relatively below their expectations, they tended to have lower satisfaction. These findings imply that the educational authorities should adjust their policymaking to meet the varying needs of middle-income families in rapidly developing cities.

Highlights

• Preschool quality, children’s development, and parents’ needs are the main determinants of preschool choice.

• Middle-income parents’ primary concerns are program quality and the development of children’s self-care abilities.

• Three-way ANOVA showed that parental satisfaction differed significantly by preschool type, parental job, and educational level.

Appendix

Dear parents,

Hello! We believe that you have experience in choosing a preschool for your child. We hope you are willing to share with us the factors you considered when choosing a preschool. Please reflect on the real situation and answer these questions objectively and honestly. The questionnaire comprises two parts: part one is the main section of the questionnaire, while part two is intended to obtain basic information. As this questionnaire is for academic research only, your answers will not be disclosed to the public.

Thank you for your participation.

尊敬的家长:

您好! 相信您一定有替孩子选择幼儿园的经验, 我们希望您能将自己当时选择幼儿园时所考虑的各种因素告诉我们, 请跟进真实情况客观、如实地填写。此次问卷主要分为两部分, 第一部分为问卷主体部分, 第二部分为基本信息部分。由于本问卷只供专业研究所用, 填答内容绝不对外公开, 请您放心。

在此对您的参与表示由衷地感谢!

Part one: Factors influencing your choice of preschool education

第一部分 影响家长幼儿园选择的因素

Please tick (“√“) the box (□) according to the importance of the statement concerning your choice of preschool, with options ranging from 1 “not important” to 5 “very important.”

请您根据当时在选择幼儿园时, 影响您选择的重要性程度在相应的□中“√“, 从1到5, 重要性程度递增。

	1	2	3	4	5
1. The educational ideas of the preschool.幼儿园的办园理念和教育理念	□	□	□	□	□
2. The educational characteristics of the preschool.幼儿园具有教育特色, 如才艺课程或其他特色课程	□	□	□	□	□
3. The preschool’s image, such as its reputation and scale.幼儿园的形象, 如声誉、规模	□	□	□	□	□
4. The fees charged by the preschool.幼儿园收费	□	□	□	□	□
5. The preschool environment, such as the safety of the school area and the attractiveness of its surroundings.幼儿园所处外部环境, 如远离危险区域、自然环境优美	□	□	□	□	□
6. The cultural atmosphere of the preschool.幼儿园的文化氛围	□	□	□	□	□
7. The facilities of the preschool are complete and safe.幼儿园的硬件设施设备齐全且安全性达标	□	□	□	□	□
8. The preschool possesses rich and diverse resources in terms of books and toys.幼儿园的图书和玩具资源丰富, 种类多样	□	□	□	□	□
9. The school has a sufficient and consistent number of teachers.幼儿园教师数量充足且较为稳定	□	□	□	□	□
10. The preschool’s teacher-student ratio.幼儿园师生比	□	□	□	□	□
11. The preschool employs English teachers.幼儿园配有外教	□	□	□	□	□
12. The educational backgrounds and professional titles of the preschool teachers.幼儿园教师的学历和职称	□	□	□	□	□
13. The preschool teachers can care for the children, pay attention to nutrition and food, and ensure student safety.幼儿园教师具备保育能力, 注重营养配餐、对幼儿的生活照顾和看护安全等	□	□	□	□	□
14. The preschool teachers’ teaching abilities, respect for each child’s unique learning style, their choice of educational activity content, as well as their ability to organize activities and collect activity materials.幼儿园教师教育教学能力, 能够在尊重幼儿特有学习方式的基础上, 选择教育活动内容、组织活动能力、搜集活动材料等	□	□	□	□	□
15. Preschool teachers’ attitudes toward children.幼儿园教师对幼儿的态度	□	□	□	□	□
16. The preschool teachers are responsible and loving.幼儿园教师具有责任心和爱心等品质	□	□	□	□	□
17. The external image of the preschool teachers.幼儿园教师外在形象	□	□	□	□	□
18. The preschool has a strong sense of safety.幼儿园的安全意识较强	□	□	□	□	□
19. The preschool has a good safety system.幼儿园的安全制度健全	□	□	□	□	□
20. The preschool pays attention to health and safety, especially food hygiene and safety.幼儿园注重卫生安全, 尤其是食品卫生安全	□	□	□	□	□
21. The preschool’s security measures are good.幼儿园安保措施健全	□	□	□	□	□
22. The preschool pays attention to the quality of communication between a student’s family and the preschool itself by using the headmaster’s mailbox and parents’ suggestion box, and provides timely feedback regarding children’s studies and development.幼儿园注重家园沟通的质量, 经常与家长沟通, 园长信箱、家长意见箱的畅通, 及时反馈孩子在园学习、生活情况	□	□	□	□	□
23. The preschool cooperates with the student’s family, and parents can participate in preschool education activities.幼儿园注重家园合作, 家长参与幼儿园教育活动的机会较多	□	□	□	□	□
24. The preschool pays attention to the student’s physical and mental development, including perceptual experiences, communication, cooperation, exploration, and creations in life and games.注重在生活和游戏中, 引导幼儿动手动脑、感知体验、交往合作、探究创造等方面的发展	□	□	□	□	□
25. The preschool ensures the development of a healthy posture, emotional stability and happiness, balance and endurance, the formation of good living habits such as dressing and organization, and the development of self-care abilities.幼儿健康体态的养成, 情绪安定愉快, 平衡力、耐力等动作发展, 穿衣、整理物品等良好生活习惯的养成和自理能力的发展	□	□	□	□	□
26. The preschool teaches children to listen to others, express their ideas, and nurture their reading and writing interests.幼儿能够倾听他人, 表达自己的想法, 并喜爱阅读, 对书写充满兴趣	□	□	□	□	□
27. The preschool encourages children to interact with others and actively adapt to group life.幼儿能够积极主动与他人交往, 适应群体生活	□	□	□	□	□
28. The preschool teaches children to understand experiences and phenomena through scientific inquiry and satisfy their curiosity and interest through inquiry.幼儿能够通过科学探究认识事物和现象, 以满足好奇心和探究兴趣	□	□	□	□	□
29. The preschool nurtures children’s interests in mathematics (including logarithm, quantity, shapes, and space) and their beliefs that mathematics is useful and interesting.幼儿对数、量、形状和空间等数学领域的知识充满兴趣, 感觉数学有用有趣	□	□	□	□	□
30. The preschool encourages children to feel, express, and create beauty and cultivates their appreciation of beauty.幼儿能够感受美、表现美和创造美, 有一双发现美的眼睛	□	□	□	□	□
31. The preschool’s students enjoy school and always feel happy.幼儿喜欢上幼儿园, 总是感到开心快乐	□	□	□	□	□
32. Family income.家庭收入	□	□	□	□	□
33. The distance between the home and the preschool.家庭所在地与幼儿园距离	□	□	□	□	□
34. The availability of convenient transportation.交通便利	□	□	□	□	□
35. As a result of the parents’ work, the preschool offers convenient services, such as early delivery and late pick-up, extended stay services, and a school bus service.由于家长工作原因, 幼儿园能够提供便利服务, 如早送晚接、延长留园服务、校车服务等	□	□	□	□	□

Part two: Basic information

第二部分 基本信息

Please tick (“√“) the relevant box (□) or provide the requested information in the space provided.

请您对以下每个项目打“√“或填写具体内容

1. You are the child’s: □ Father □ Mother

您是孩子的: □父亲 □母亲

2. The highest educational background of your spouse is: □ Doctorate □ Master’s degree □ Bachelor’s degree □ Other (please specify) ______

您夫妻中的最高学历为: □博士研究生 □硕士研究生 □本科 □其他 (请注明) ______

3. Your work is in: □ Government □ Scientific research institution □ Education □ Company enterprise □ Self-employed □ Law firm □ Other (please specify) ______

您的工作是在: □机关事业单位 □科研机构 □学校 □公司企业 □个体经营 □律师事务所 □其他 (请注明) ______

4. You were born in: □ 1980–1985 □ 1986–1989 □ 1990 and later □ Other (please specify) ______

您出生在: □1980-1985 □1986-1989 □1990及以后 □其他 (请注明) ______

5. The year your child entered kindergarten: ______

您孩子进入幼儿园的年份是 ______

6. The preschool your child attends is a: □ Demonstration public preschool □ First-level public preschool □ Second-level public preschool □ Private preschool

您孩子上的幼儿园属于: □示范园 □一类园 □二类园 □私立园

7. Is your child’s preschool your first choice? □ Yes □ No; if no, please indicate the type of your preferred preschool (such as demonstration public preschool, high-quality private preschool, etc.) ______

您孩子上的幼儿园是否是您当时想要的首选: □是 □否, 请注明您当时首选幼儿园的性质______ (如公办性质的示范园、质量好的私立园)

8. What channels did you use to obtain the materials necessary for choosing a kindergarten (please select all relevant options): □ Introduction by relatives or friends □ Publicity on the preschool site or website □ Proximity to residence, no special choice □ Neighborhood children attend this preschool □ Other (please specify) ______

您当初选择幼儿园时主要通过哪些途径获得材料 (可多选) : □亲友介绍 □幼儿园现场或网站宣传 □在家附近, 不需要特别选择 □邻居孩子在这所幼儿园就读 □其他 (请注明) ______

9. Who had the deciding vote in the choice of preschool? □ Father □ Mother □ Mutual consultation and decision

您在选择孩子幼儿园时主要由______决定: □父亲 □母亲 □共同商议决定

10. Did you visit the school in advance? □ Yes □ No

您是否提前到幼儿园现场考察过: □是 □否

11. How do you feel about your child’s preschool education: □ Very satisfied □ Satisfied □ Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied □ Dissatisfied □ Very dissatisfied

您对孩子所在幼儿园受的教育感觉如何? □非常满意 □满意 □一般 □不满意 □非常不满意