Citation

Eheart BK, Leavitt RL. Early Child Res. Q. 1989; 4(1): 145-162.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0885-2006(89)90155-5

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this two-phase study, guided by the theory and method of interpretive interactionism, is to describe how family day care providers perceive and implement their caregiving practices. In phase I, 31 providers were interviewed and asked to describe their daily activities and caregiving responsibilities. In phase II, 6 providers were observed in their homes over a 10-month period. This study revealed that what family day care providers intended to provide for children--a loving, attentive, play-filled environment--did not consistently happen in practice. We suggest that this discrepancy may be due to the differences in interpretations that providers and researchers have for various works, phrases, and behaviors. It may also be due to aspects of group composition (i.e., group size, consistency of group, and relationship of children to provider). Recommendations for training and research are presented, and implications for children's development and family day care licensing are discussed.