Factors associated with sensitive caregivers in Canadian childcare centres

• Main Author: Thompson, Deborah
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Child care services > Canada; Day care centers > Canada > Employees; Child care workers > Canada
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/11896

This exploratory study focused on identifying the stuctural indicators of high quality childcare that are associated with high levels of caregiver sensitivity. The participants in the study were 318 caregivers employed in 234 Canadian childcare centres. Caregivers were observed in their centres and their sensitivity was rated using the Caregiver Interaction Scale (Arnett, 1989). Structural indicators of quality were identified through a Centre Questionnaire and a Staff Questionnaire developed for the You Bet I Care! study (Goelman et al. 2000) sent to centres prior to the observations. Using a median split, the caregivers' scores were divided into high and low scores and the structural indicators of the two groups were compared. The results were analysed first considering the scores of all observed caregivers together and then as two separate groups: caregivers of infants and toddlers and caregivers of children aged 3 to 6 years. The analysis revealed that certain features of the centre and characteristics of the caregiver were associated with higher levels of caregiver sensitivity. The features of the centre that were associated with caregiver sensitivity included financial issues (eg. wages), staff development, centre administration, and characteristics of the children in the centre. Characteristics of the caregivers that were associated with sensitivity were caregiver attitudes and beliefs, caregiver feelings about their work, and level of education. The results of this study suggest that caregiver sensitivity which is related to positive developmental outcomes for children may be enhanced through the active support of the larger community.