GoodheartWillcox Co Inc 23 Child Care and Education

© Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

23 Child Care and Education in Group Settings © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Key Terms child care programs in-home child care au pairs nannies family child care center-based child care • for-profit programs • not-for-profit programs • • • © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. • work-related child care programs • school-age child care (SACC) programs • child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies • child development laboratories • Head Start continued

Key Terms • • Montessori schools kindergartens private programs fingerplays regulations public programs adult-child ratio developmentally appropriate practices (DAPs) © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. • developmentally inappropriate practices (DIPs) • field trips • culture shock • bias • hidden added costs • hidden cost credits

Objective • Trace the history of the major types of group programs for young children. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Types of Group Programs • • Child care programs Child development laboratories Head Start Preschool (pre-kindergarten) programs Montessori schools Kindergartens Primary schools © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Child Care Programs • Child care programs that operate to care for children for extended hours – often operate between 9– 12 hours a day – provide basic care for children when parents are not available • Many programs are providing education as well as care services © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Historical Overview • European Infant Schools – late 1700 s to early 1800 s – served poor children until age five or six when they entered the workforce • U. S. programs for poor families – middle of nineteenth century, urban areas – included education for parents © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Historical Overview • Federal funds aided programs during – Great Depression of 1929 – WWII (1941– 1945 for U. S. ) • child care programs declined after WWII • Women entered the workforce – 1960 s – care programs increased, poor quality © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Types of Child Care Programs In-home child care Family child care Center-based child care School-age child care © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

In-Home Child Care • In-home child care takes place in the child’s own home • May be provided by parents, relatives, or nonrelatives • Among dual-career parents, – about 27% of children under age five are cared for by a parent – a little more than one-fourth of children are cared for by a relative © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

In-Home Child Care • Small percentage of children receive inhome care from nonrelatives – housekeepers often take care of the children and clean the house – au pairs provide care for children as part of a cultural exchange program – nannies may live in the home or come to the home daily • generally have specific training in child care © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Family Child Care • Family child care is provided by a person for a small number of children in his or her own home • May be run like a child care center • About 13% of children are in family child care • May offer more flexible hours • May not be regulated © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Center-Based Child Care • Center-based child care is a large group program in which child care is provided in a center (not a home) © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Center-Based Child Care • About 29% of children under age five with working parents are in center-based child care • Centers differ in the number of children they serve • State licensing laws set the standards for all aspects of center-based child care programs © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Center-Based Child Care • For-profit programs are set up to make money • Not-for-profit programs make only enough profit to pay expenses • Work-related child care programs are sponsored by businesses for their employees’ children © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

School-Age Child Care (SACC) Programs • School-age child care (SACC) programs provide care for 5 - to 14 year-olds when school is out • Includes before and after school, holidays, vacations, and during the summer • Majority affiliated with schools or programs serving youth © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

School-Age Child Care (SACC) Programs • Provide care, recreation, diversion (crafts, drama, field trips), education © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Trends in Child Care Programs • More infant and toddler care • Growth in SACC programs • Growth in work-related child care programs • Growth in child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies, which promote local programs and help parents find child care © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Child Development Laboratories • Child development laboratories provide education and physical care for children under age five – formerly called nursery schools • Serve as research sites for child development experts – part of research and teaching universities • Directed by child development experts © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Head Start • Head Start is a federally sponsored program launched to meet the needs of children from low-income families • Includes an educational component for parents • Early Head Start serves children from birth through 35 months © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Preschool Programs • Preschool programs usually refer to state-funded programs for threeand four-year-olds from families of low -income – also called prekindergartens © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Preschool Programs • Some states offer universal preschools for all income levels • Majority of children in preschools are in public school settings, but some attend Head Start © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Montessori Schools • Montessori schools encourage children to learn independently through the use of highly specialized materials rather than direct input from teachers – self-correcting materials aid children’s independent work © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Montessori Schools • Sensory learnings are a major focus • Each child is in charge of his or her own learning © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Kindergartens • Kindergartens are educational programs for four- and five-year-olds • In the U. S. , they are part of each state’s public education system • Serves as an entrance to school education and gives children the chance to play and develop through various activities © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Kindergartens • Rooted in Friedrich Froebel’s German private programs (programs owned by individuals, churches, others) – enrolled children from ages three to seven years – provided teaching suggestions for mothers with younger children – taught children without the rote academic learning used for older children © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Kindergartens – planned many of the activities in use today • examples: building blocks, beads, art materials, sand, fingerplays (poems/rhymes acted out with the hands) © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Primary School Programs • Kindergarten to age nine • U. S. mandates attendance • Each state sets learning standards © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

What Do You Think? • Why do you think it is helpful to study the history of child care programs? © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Objective • Describe what to look for when choosing a quality program. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Choosing a Group Program • • • Regulations Housing and equipment Staff Parent communication and participation Program activities Cultural diversity © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Choosing a Group Program • Care for children with special needs • Other considerations • Quality of group programs © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Regulations • Regulations are standards that govern a group program – some regulations apply to all programs, some only to public programs (those funded by government) • Accredited programs have met even higher standards of quality through a professional organization © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Housing and Equipment • Varies with the program goals • Should meet the needs of the children in the program • Should be safe and meet health standards • Should be sanitary • Should provide adequate space for comfort and activities © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Staff • Adult-child ratio is the number of adults per number of children • Numbers vary from state to state • Numbers for group size and children per adult should be reduced if children with special needs are included © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Staff Age of children 0 to 1 year Group size 6 Adult-child ratio 1: 3 1 to 2 years 8 1: 4 2 to 3 years 12 1: 6 3 to 6 years (excluding first grade) 18 1: 9 © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Parent Communication and Participation • Teachers and caregivers should – convey the importance of parents – know about each family they serve – find ways to work with parents as a team – know the ways in which parents prefer to communicate with and participate in their children’s group program © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Program Activities • Developmentally appropriate practices (DAPs) uses knowledge of – child development – each child’s strengths, needs, interests, and culture • Opposite of DAPs are developmentally inappropriate practices (DIPs) © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Program Activities DAPs include Language learnings Social learnings Math learnings Creative fun Science learnings Motor skills © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Program Activities • Many programs invite adults to share special skills – may be parents of children in program • Field trips take children to places off the program’s property – fun way to learn about the community © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Cultural Diversity in Group Programs • Affirm each child’s identity • Respect diversity by making the program culturally rich – cultural shock may occur if children have an uncomfortable response to unfamiliar cultures • Help children learn that bias (unfair treatment) hurts © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Child Care and Education for Children with Special Needs • Inclusion is practiced – children with special needs are placed in classrooms with other children, while providing help for children who need it – diversity of all types is seen as positive • Environment must be arranged • Some activities must be adapted for children with special needs © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Other Considerations • Special services may be needed • Families often spend at least 10% of their total gross income on child care © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Other Considerations • Hidden added costs are costs that add to the direct costs of child care – transportation, supplies, disposable diapers, services or items donated to a child care program • Hidden cost credits are credits that lower direct costs of child care – money from a second income, child-care tax credits © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Quality of Group Programs • Signs of low-quality programs – parents cannot visit the program without asking in advance – staff members are not trained to work with young children – program does not take special interest in children’s needs – adults push children to perform above their abilities, causing them stress © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Objective • Explain the effects of group care and education on children’s development. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Effects of Group Care on Children • Effects on health – centers that enroll more than 50 children seem to have more illnesses • Effects on mental development – little effect on the mental development of children from middle-class homes – programs targeting children from low-income homes need follow-up © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc. continued

Effects of Group Care on Children • Effects on social development – bonds between children and families are not affected – contact with peers tends to increase aggression in children • teachers’ response to aggression is key • parents can reduce possible aggression-promoting influences by limiting exposure to media portrayals of aggression © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Objective • Describe ways to help children adjust to group settings. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Helping Children Adjust to Group Care • Make adjustment seem casual • Explain the program to children • If children do not adapt, the cause of stress should be investigated – unannounced visits – discussion with teachers © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

What Do You Think? • What do you think are the five most important considerations when choosing child care? © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • adult-child ratio. Number of adults per number of children in a group setting. • au pairs. Professionals who provide child care for host families as part of a cultural exchange program. • bias. Belief or feeling that results in unfair treatment of another person or makes such treatment seem right. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • center-based child care. Large group program in which child care is provided in a center rather than in a home. • child care programs. Programs that operate to care for children for extended hours (usually between 9 and 12 hours a day). © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies. Agencies that promote local child care programs and help parents find child care. • child development laboratories. Child care programs for children under age five that serve as research sites for child development experts. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • culture shock. Uncomfortable response to an unfamiliar culture. • developmentally appropriate practices (DAPs). Child care and education that uses knowledge about child development and considers each child’s strengths, needs, interests, and culture. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • developmentally inappropriate practices (DIPs). Child care and education that do not use knowledge about child development and focus mainly on the group instead of each child. • family child care. Care provided by a person for a small number of children in his or her own home. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • field trips. Outings that take children to places away from a child care program’s property. • fingerplays. Poems and rhymes that are acted out with the hands. • for-profit programs. Programs set up to make money. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • Head Start. Federally sponsored program that was launched to meet the needs of children from low-income families. • hidden added costs. Costs of child care that add to the direct costs. • hidden cost credits. Credits that lower the direct costs of child care. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • in-home child care. Child care that takes place in the child’s own home. • kindergartens. Programs publicly and privately operated for four-and five-year-old children; serve as an entrance to school education. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • Montessori schools. Schools that encourage children to learn independently through the use of highly specialized materials. • nannies. Professionals who contract with a family to provide in-home child care. • not-for-profit programs. Child care programs in which income only covers costs. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • private programs. Programs owned by individuals, churches, or other nongovernment groups. • public programs. Child care programs funded by local, state, or federal government. • regulations. Standards that govern a group program. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.

Glossary of Key Terms • school-age child care (SACC) programs. Programs that provide child care for 5 - to 14 year-olds when school is not in session. • work-related child care programs. Child care programs funded by businesses for their employees’ children. © Goodheart-Willcox Co. , Inc.