Skip to main content
Log in

The Relation of Quality Indicators to Provider Knowledge of Child Development in Family Child Care Homes

  • Published:
Child and Youth Care Forum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There are continuing concerns about the quality of care offered in family child care homes. One concern is the relationship between regulated structural indicators of quality (training, education, and experience) and process quality indicators (provider engagement with children). This study examined (1) the relationship between structural and process indicators and (2) provider knowledge in predicting process quality. Results suggested that structural indicators of licensure and training were significantly related to process quality. In addition, provider knowledge of child development and health care practices were significant predictors of process quality above structural indicators. Recommendations for trainers and regulatory agencies are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnett, J. (1987, April). Training for caregivers in day care centers. Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, MD.

  • Arnett, J. (1989). Caregivers in day care centers: Does training matter? Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 10, 541-552.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aronson, S. S. (1986). Priorities for health and safety in child care. Child Care Information Exchange, 50, 14-18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley, R. H. & Caldwell, B. M. (1995). Caregiving and the regulation of child growth and development: Describing proximal aspects of caregiving systems. Developmental Review, 15, 38-85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell, B. J. & Bradley, R. H. (1987). HOME observation for measurement of the environment. Little Rock: University of Arkansas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clifford, R. M., Harms, T., Pepper, S., & Stuart, B. (1992). Assessing quality in family child care. In D. Peters & A.R. Pence (Eds.), Family child care: Current research for informed public policy (pp. 243-265). New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeBord, K. & Sawyer, J. (1996). The effects of training on the quality of family child care for those associated with and not associated with professional child care organizations. Child & Youth Care Forum, 25(1), 7-15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dombro, A. L. & Modigliana, K. (1995). Family child care providers speak about training, trainers, accreditation, and professionalism. New York: Families andWork Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer J. L. & Eheart, B. K. (1991). Family day care: A theoretical basis for improving care. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 6, 549-563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, J. L. (1989). Family child care: Factors influencing the quality of caregiving practices. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois, 1989). Dissertation Abstracts International, 58, DA 8926071.

  • Galinsky, E., Howes, D., Kontos, S., & Shinn, M. (1994). The study of children in family child care and relative care. New York: Families and Work Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher, J. J., Rooney, R., & Campbell, S. (1999). Child care licensing regulations and child care quality in four states. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 14(3), 313-333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goelman, H., Shapiro, E., & Pence, A.R. (1990). Family environment and family child care. Family Relations, I39, 14-19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harms, T. & Clifford, R. (1989). Family child care rating scale. New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howes, C, Galinsky, E., & Kontos, S. (1998). Child care giver sensitivity and attachment. Social Development, 7(1), 25-36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kontos, S. (1992). Family child care: Out of the shadows and into the limelight. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kontos, S., Howes, D., & Galinsky, E., (1996). Does training make a difference to quality in family child care? Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 11, 427-445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kontos, S., Howes, C., Shinn, M., & Galinsky, E. (1995). Quality in family child care & relative care. New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machida, S. (1990). In-home health education for family child care providers: A rural community-based project. Child & Youth Care Quarterly, 19(4), 271-288.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacPhee, D. (1984). Knowledge of Infant Development Inventory (KIDI). Unpublished questionnaire and manual, Colorado State University at Fort Collins.

  • Mueller, C. W. & Orimoto, L. (1995). Factors related to the recruitment, training, and retention of family child care providers. Child Welfare, 74(6), 1205-1221.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Early Childhood Care Research Network (1996). Characteristics of infant child care: Factors contributing to positive caregiving. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 11, 269-306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pence, A. R. & Goelman, H. (1991). The relationship of regulations, training, and motivation to quality of care in family child care. Child & Youth Care Forum, 20(2), 83-101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, D. (1996). Reframing the quality issue. In S. L. Kagan & N. E. Cohen (Eds.), Reinventing early care and education: A vision for a quality system (pp. 43-64). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, D. (Ed). (1987). Quality in child care: What does research tell us? Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, M. K. (1991). Behaviors and beliefs of caregivers in family child care: The effects of background and work environment. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 6(2), 263-283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1987). Psychosocial resilience and protective mechanism. American Journal of Orthospychiatry, 57, 316-331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A. P. & Endsley, R. C. (1996). Comparison of accredited and nonaccredited family child care programs on program quality, provider professionalism, and family support. Child & Youth Care Forum, 25(6), 353-378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, A. R., Dunster, L., & Pollard, J. (1999). "... And this helps me how? Family child care providers discuss training." Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 14, 285-312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkes, D. B., Lambert, R., & VandeWiele, L. (1998). Technical assistance as part of routine inspections of family child care homes. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 13(2), 355-372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigler, E. F. & Gilman, E. (1996). Not Just Any Care: Shaping a Coherent Child Care Policy. In E. F. Zigler, S. L. Kagan, & N. W. Hall (Eds.), Children, families, and government: Preparing for the twenty-first century (pp. 94-116). New York: University of Cambridge Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bordin, J., Machida, S. & Varnell, H. The Relation of Quality Indicators to Provider Knowledge of Child Development in Family Child Care Homes. Child & Youth Care Forum 29, 323–341 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016662011920

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016662011920

Navigation