ERIC Number: EJ804876
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Sep
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0312-5033
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Parent Perspectives on Childcare Quality among a Culturally Diverse Sample
da Silva, Lisa; Wise, Sarah
Australian Journal of Early Childhood, v31 n3 p6-14 Sep 2006
Traditionally, childcare quality has been defined from a child development perspective. How quality is defined, however, depends on the stakeholder being considered. This paper examines childcare quality from a parent perspective. Information was obtained from 238 Australian parents from culturally diverse backgrounds with children using formal childcare services. The findings suggest that, while developmental features of child care were central to all parents' concepts of quality, the issues of accessibility, relationships with carers, and sensitivity to cultural background also ranked highly. Some cultural differences were found. Overall, parents perceived that their childcare arrangement matched the quality features they considered important. However, this differed according to parent culture, with Somali parents most likely and Vietnamese parents least likely to report that their childcare arrangement matched the quality features they considered important. The research, policy and practice implications are discussed. (Contains 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Parent Attitudes, Cultural Differences, Cultural Background, Child Care, Child Development, Educational Quality, Foreign Countries, Cultural Awareness, Vietnamese People, Measures (Individuals), Immigrants
Early Childhood Australia. P.O. Box 7105, Watson, ACT 2602, Australia. Tel: +61-2-6242-1800; Fax: +61-2-6242-1818; e-mail: publishing@earlychildhood.org.au; Web site: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia; Somalia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A