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Predictors of Instructional Practices Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Home-Based Child Care Providers

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Abstract

Background

Home-based child care is a widely-used form of child care. However, given its prevalence, there is little research examining the providers’ instructional practices and how these may vary by provider characteristics.

Objective

The goal of this study is to describe variation in instructional practices among home-based child care providers and to examine predictors of instructional practices, including provider, program, and community characteristics.

Methods

This study examines the instructional practices of listed and unlisted paid home-based child care providers using data from the National Survey of Early Care and Education through descriptive analyses and hierarchical multiple regression.

Results

Descriptive analyses suggest that providers across types report implementing learning activities, although this is more prevalent among listed providers. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression reveal that recent professional engagement predicts a higher frequency of planned learning activities for listed and unlisted paid providers, although the significant predictors are different for the two groups of providers.

Conclusions

Home-based child care providers vary by provider type in the frequency of their instructional practices. Increasing access to professional development and social support opportunities may be an important strategy for supporting their implementation of educational activities with the children they serve. Additionally, different supports may be beneficial for listed and unlisted paid providers.

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Acknowledgements

The project described was supported by the OPRE Child Care Research Scholars Dissertation Grant, Grant Number 90YE0160, from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Thank you to Danielle Riser and Claire Schweiker for their assistance with preparing this manuscript.

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  1. University of Alabama, Box 870232, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Alison Hooper

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  1. Alison Hooper
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Correspondence to Alison Hooper.

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Hooper, A. Predictors of Instructional Practices Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Home-Based Child Care Providers. Child Youth Care Forum 47, 747–768 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-018-9456-z

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