This study examines the current status of parental education at home based and private child care centers and shows if there are any differences in the perception of mothers and child care providers who need close relationships for the sound developme...
This study examines the current status of parental education at home based and private child care centers and shows if there are any differences in the perception of mothers and child care providers who need close relationships for the sound development and growth of children regarding parental education. The following research questions are derived from these research objectives.
[Research question 1] What is the current status of parental education at home based and private child care centers?
[Research question 2] Are there any differences in the perception of mothers and child care providers on parental education?
To examine the research questions above, 300 mothers and child care providers respectively at certified home based and private child care centers in Kimpo City were given a questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed in frequency, percentage, χ² test, and independent samples t test, utilizing SPSS Win12.0 program.
The following summarizes the major research findings.
First, most of the child care centers in the study were administering parental education. Child care providers received the information for parental education through newsletters, and mothers through mass media (TV, Radio, newspaper, etc), which indicated a significant difference between the two subject groups. To promote participation in parental education, school newsletters, talking to children and communication notebooks were utilized. Child care providers and mothers at home based child care centers exhibited a significant difference in communication channels, while those at private child care centers did not.
The survey of parents’ opinions before parental education was not conducted over half of the time, but done more frequently at home based child care centers than private child care centers. Over half of the subject groups stated that they evaluated how systematic parental education was. This was significantly different between child care providers and mothers at home based child care centers, but not at private child care centers.
Parental education at both home based and private child care centers dealt with developmental features, good parental roles, healthy nutrition, and safety rules in the listed order of frequency. It took place in the forms of orientation, individual counseling, and parental education program. Most frequently the survey questionnaire was distributed after parental education for evaluation, but evaluations were not done 27% of the time. Child care providers and mothers at home based child care centers responded positively about parental education. However, all the child care providers and mothers at private child care centers rated it lower than average and considered child care providers’ roles very important.
Secondly, the results showed that both subject groups thought it necessary to have parental education. The most frequent reason provided by both subject groups was that it relates to family life. There was no significant difference at home based child care centers, but there was at private child care centers. Over 70% of subjects expressed that it is essential to have an annual plan for parental education at child care centers. This showed a significant difference at home based child care centers, but not at private child care centers. As for connecting child care centers and families, cooperation with child care centers and with local community was preferred and there was no significant difference between child care providers and mothers.
Good parental roles, developmental features, healthy nutrition and safety rules were the subjects requested for parental education in the order of highest frequency. It was considered necessary to train child care providers. As parental educators, child education specialists and directors were preferred, with contrastive responses of mothers’ preference for specialists and child care providers’ preference for directors. This was significantly different between two subject groups. The most frequently preferred time was one hour each time on Saturdays when necessary, which showed a significant difference between two subject groups in preferred time.
The preferred forms of parental education showed a significant difference in all the subjects at both types of child care centers. Child care providers at home based child care centers preferred open classes or parental education programs, but mothers preferred open classes where parents could participate. Implementing methods also showed a significant difference between the subject groups at both types of child care centers. The child care providers preferred individual counseling after a lecture or speech, while mothers preferred group discussion after a lecture or speech. When inviting specialists, they strongly desired education on child raising skills, children’s misbehavior, and their development. As for the location of parental education, child care centers and public places in the local community were preferred.
The best time for parental education was considered during infanthood and young childhood or before childbirth, which showed a significant difference between two subject groups at home based child care centers but not at private child care centers. Parental education at child care centers was generally considered important. Child care providers rated its importance more highly than mothers did.
The research findings indicate that parental education is necessary at home based and private child care centers as well as at national, public, or incorporated young children’s education centers. This study implies that it is necessary to implement parental education systematically through close relations between child care centers and families.