Abstract
Seventy-eight toddlers (mean age=19.2 mo.) enrolled in center or family day care or at home with their mothers were observed in order to examine determinants of individual experiences of caregiving. Three clusters of caregiver-child interaction were identified: talk and play, restrict and cry, and touch and laugh. Children at home and in day-care settings with more adults per child had higher talk and play scores than children in day-care settings with fewer adults per child. Children at home and in day-care centers with fewer adults per child had higher restrict and cry scores. Children in day-care centers with more adults per child had the highest touch and laugh scores.
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This research was supported by NIMH grant No. IF31 MHO 7407-01 to author Howes and by grants from the William T. Grant Foundation and the Spencer Foundation to author Rubenstein. Portions of this research were included in a doctoral dissertation submitted to Boston University by author Howes.
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Howes, C., Rubenstein, J.L. Determinants of toddlers' experience in day care: Age of entry and quality of setting. Child Youth Care Forum 14, 140–151 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01113407
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01113407