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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.

Background: The amount of time children spend in child care (CC) each week has increased in recent years. As a result children consume a large proportion of their daily energy intake at CC facilities. The purpose of this study is to describe the baseline dietary practices and environment in preschool-aged children attending CC centers in Southwest Georgia before the implementation of a one-year policy implementation program. Methods: The data is the baseline data of a pilot study evaluating nutrition and physical activity wellness policy implementation in twenty four licensed CC in Georgia. Each CC provided a sample one week menu (three meals/day: breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks). The energy and nutrient contents of 360 meals were analyzed using NutriKids. Food groups were assessed using a menu rubric. Menus were compared to the Dietary Reference Intakes and MyPyramid food group recommendations for children 3 to 5 years of age Results: Children were served a mean of 883 kcal at three meals. The menus content met the requirements for energy, macro-nutrients, vitamins A and C. However, the menus were high in saturated fat, and sodium content and did not meet the requirements for iron, fiber and calcium. The majority of the centers did not meet the requirements of the Food Guide Pyramid for pre-schoolers. With the exception of milk, children at all participating centers were served less than the recommended amounts for grains, vegetables, meat/beans and fresh fruits. Conclusions: Child care settings provide a unique opportunity to influence children's dietary behaviors and health. Our data suggests that children are not consuming recommended amounts of whole grains, fruits or vegetables while attending full-time childcare. Instead, children are consuming excessive amounts of added sugars from sweet snacks, sodium, and saturated fat from whole milk and high-fat or fried meats. We anticipate that by the end of the one-year implementation of the wellness policies, day-care centers in Southwest Georgia will be better equipped to improve the quality of food served to this population of children. Findings from this study and the policy recommendations that emerge could significantly impact efforts to provide healthier nutrition environments to children in child care centers.

Pastaraisiais metais Lietuvoje buvo galima stebėti ir itin spartų nevyriausybinių organizacijų vaikų ir jaunimo dienos centrų gausėjimą. Tokį reiškinį, mūsų nuomone, galėjo įtakoti faktas, jog daugumoje savivaldybių buvo pradėta vykdyti Nacionalinė nevyriausybinių organizacijų vaikų dienos centrų 2002-2004 programa, kurios tąsa- Nacionalinė vaikų dienos centrų 2005-2007 metų programa ir 2008-2012 metų programa. NVO vaikų ir jaunimo dienos centrai, jų veikla, steigimo ypatumai yra mažai nagrinėti Lietuvos autorių, sociologų, mokslininkų tarpe. Šiuo darbu buvo siekiama teoriškai ir empyriškai pagrįsti vaikų ir jaunimo dienos centro veiklos modelį Lietuvoje. Užsibrėžto tikslo atskleidimui buvo siekta: išanalizuoti NVO vaikų ir jaunimo dienos centrų steigimo ir veiklos vykdymo teisinį reguliavimą; apibrėžti NVO vaikų ir jaunimo dienos centrų susikūrimo prielaidas pasaulyje ir Lietuvoje; atlikti Lietuvos NVO vaikų ir jaunimo dienos centrų PEST ir SWOT analizes; apibrėžti galimą NVO vaikų ir jaunimo dienos centro veikos modelį. Tyrimas empyriškai parėmė NVO vaikų ir jaunimo dienos centrų teorinį modelį, kurį paruošė ir pristatė autorė. / Few resent years there could be observed rapid growth of non-govermental organzations child and youth daycare centers. In our opinion, such occurence can be influenced by the fact, that majority of local administrations started to execute National non-govermental organizations child and youth daycare centers Pastaraisiais metais Lietuvoje buvo galima stebėti itin spartų nevyriausybinių 2002-2004 program. This program has a continuation – National child daycare centers 2005-2007 year and 2008-2012 year programs. NGO child and youth daycare centers, their activieties and establishment specificity has never been deeply examined by Lithuanian authors, socialogists or scientists. This work is done to reach theoretical and epyrical validity for Lithuanian NGO child and youth daycare centers activities model. To acomplish this task we tried to achive: to examine NGO child and youth daycare centers establishment and activities legal regulations; to define NGO child and youth daycare centers establishment premises; to cary out NGO child and youth daycare centers PEST and SWOT analysis; to carry out NGO child and youth daycare centers directors and experts interview (to adapt expert evaluation method). The research empirically based theoretical model of NGO child and youth daycare centers, which was prepared and presented by the author.

The purpose of this study was to identify parent perceptions of a developmentally appropriate curriculum (goals, teaching strategies, learning activities, and assessment methods) in selected early childhood centers. The relationship between income level and educational background and parent perceptions of a developmentally appropriate curriculum was also studied. Additionally, the relationship between parent perceptions of a developmentally appropriate curriculum and the selection of early childhood centers was examined.The Parent Perception Questionnaire, developed by the researcher, was mailed to 16 licensed early childhood centers in central Indiana. Respondents included 215 parents of 4- and 5-year-old children. Income level for the total group of parents ranged from less than $16,000 to more than $48,000. The largest group of parents (26.5%) reported an educational background of 1 to 3 years of college followed by parents (26.0%) with an educational level of a high school diploma.Through the use of a Likert scale, parents rated items on goals, teaching strategies, learning activities, and assessment methods as very important, important, somewhat important, or not important. A section for additional comments was also provided for parents. Each participating center was observed one time by the researcher. The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale was used to assess the developmental appropriateness of the participating centers' environment. A two-way multivariate analysis of variance at the .05 level of significance was used to test hypotheses I, II, and III. The Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was applied to test hypothesis IV.Results1. An interaction effect of income level and educational background on parent perceptions of a developmentally appropriate curriculum (goals, teaching strategies, learning activities, and assessment methods) was found to be not significant. Hypothesis I was not rejected.2. The effect of income level on parent perceptions of a developmentally appropriate curriculum (goals, teaching strategies, learning activities, and assessment methods) was found to be not significant. Hypothesis II was not rejected.3. The effect of educational background on parent perceptions of a developmentally appropriate curriculum (goals, teaching strategies, learning activities, and assessment methods) was found to be significant. Hypothesis III was rejected.4. The relationship of parent perceptions of a developmentally appropriate curriculum to the curriculum of selected early childhood centers was correlated (r = .25). / Department of Elementary Education

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2003. / "A thesis submitted to the School of Applied Social and Human Sciences, University of Western Sydney in fulfilment of the Doctor of Philosophy". Includes bibliography : leaves 248 - 270.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1938.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1938.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993.