We use observations from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and, Youth Development (SECCYD) to compare structural and process characteristics of child care centers, family child care homes (nonrelative care in a home setting) and care by relatives for 2-, 3- and 4.5-year-old children. Type of care differences in structural and caregiver…

A review of studies published between 1980 and 2005 shows a significant positive effect of specialized training on the competency of caregivers in childcare (d=0.45, S.E.=0.10). Experimental results from the meta-analysis were significantly smaller for settings with no fixed curriculum content, delivery of the training at multiple sites and…

Used data from a family child care study and a licensing study to identify dimensions best predicting global day care quality in over 300 child care homes. Found that caregiver training most consistently predicted global quality. Found no reliable association between care quality and child-caregiver ratio or age-weighted group size recommendations…

Compared family day care providers participating in training to providers who did not. Found that the two groups were very similar, that those who dropped out of training were less experienced and used fewer business and safety practices than those who completed it, and that training increased global quality, but not process quality, at two of…

Interviewed Canadian caregivers and other stakeholders about training for family child care providers, and what they see as key training issues. Suggested that training programs be made more available and accessible, but also more relevant. Suggested that standardized core content be embedded in an adult learning process focusing on real-world…

Evaluated the impact of training and experience on the knowledge, beliefs, and practices of AmeriCorps child-care volunteers in North Carolina. Found that Corps members completed successful training, but, after nine months of service, showed a decline in the appropriateness of their interactions with children. (JS)

This study of 231 regulated family child care providers proposed a theoretical model to explore the effects on quality of: (1) provider level of general education; (2) provider degree of intentionality; (3) provider training and experience in family child care; (4) provider use of support services; and (5) provider work environment. Hierarchical…

Used data from NICHD Study of Early Child Care to assess whether regulable features of child care homes affected children's development. Found caregivers' education and recency of training related to learning environment and caregiving sensitivity. More positive caregiving related to compliance with age-weighted group-size cut-offs. Caregiver…

Survey investigated center- and home-based child caregivers' perceptions of inclusion-related needs and barriers, participation in disability-related training, and current experience working with children with disabilities. Responses indicated that program and provider characteristics are related to participation in disability-related training and…

Examined effects of a 120-hour preschool training course on caregivers' behavior and children's development in early-years settings in Ireland. Found that caregivers who received training made significant gains in positive relationship and decreased in detachment levels. Children in their care made significant gains in complex social and cognitive…

Outlines a theoretical framework for studying turnover among family child care providers. The model proposes four components which interact along the path to turnover: (1) potential sources of stress; (2) moderators of stress; (3) outcomes of a cognitive appraisal process; and (4) actions on those outcomes. (MDM)

Analyzed data from study of typical center-based child care and children's development in three states. Found confirmation of prior evidence regarding importance of ratios, teacher training, and group size for high quality classroom practices; also demonstrated more significant contribution of teacher wages and parent fees. Quality varied with…

Explores some widely held assumptions concerning the role of child development knowledge in teaching young children. Issues explored include What does the term "development" mean? What child development knowledge should be learned? Can we agree on a body of child development knowledge and principles? Why has the role of child development knowledge…

Examines issues pertaining to the development of a formal knowledge base to guide the thinking and practice of early childhood teachers. Discusses the authors' views on formal knowledge, practice and reflection, and the process of teacher education, and how these views are operationalized in the master's level program at Erikson Institute in…

Examines how the terms "child development knowledge" and "teacher preparation" have come to be understood in ways that place limits on how we think about children and the preparation of teachers. Illustrates some of the differences between modernism and postmodernism, then considers why a universal practice premised on a universal theory of…