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Seo, S. (2003). Early Child Care Choices: A theoretical model and research implications. Early Child Development & Care, 173(6), 637-650.
The researcher examined child care choices among a sample of Mid Western mothers. Choices included center-based care, family child care, or a combination of the two.
The Study
- Most frequently cited variables that influence parents’ child care choices are location, cost, and hours – not quality of care.
- This study asked:
- What influences mothers’ child care decisions?
- Are there differences in mothers’ values and perceptions of influential factors when choosing child care?
- What beliefs do mothers hold as they look for child care?
- A model was developed to highlight mothers’ choices as they relate to beliefs, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, community, employment, and prevailing culture.
- Some parents are more likely to choose family child care because:
- It starts earlier in the day or ends later in the day,
- Family care is more conveniently located, and/or
- Family child care is in the family’s neighborhood.
The Methods
- The final sample included 18 mothers using center-based care, 20 mothers using family child care, and nine mothers using a combination of both. Most mothers had a Bachelor’s degree (77%) and 63% were employed full time.
The Findings
- Ninety-four percent of the mothers said that location was a factor in their child care choice; 65% cited costs were important; 62% cited availability of care was crucial; 44% said that location was very influential in their ultimate child care decision.
- Sixty-nine percent of mothers said that recommendations from friends influenced their child care choices.
- Mothers who used child care centers ranked child care referrals as significantly influential in their decisions compared to mothers who chose family child care.
- Family child care mothers found personal relationships with program staff to be key.
Center care mothers were concerned about educational and developmental opportunities for their children.
- Mothers who used a combination of the two liked having both educational environments and family-like environments for their children.
- Mothers' choices were influenced by formal and informal social relationships.
R2P Evaluation
This study, while small, gave an indication of many of the factors that are involved in a parent’s decision making when choosing their child care providers.
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