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National Study of Child Care for Low-Income Families:
Care in the Home: A Description of Family Child Care and the Experiences of the Families and Children That Use It
Final Report
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Introduction: The National Study of Child Care for Low-Income Families
Contents of this Report
Chapter One: Background to the Study
Chapter Two: Overview of the In-Depth Study of Family Child Care
Measures for the Study
Recruiting the Sample
Chapter Three: The Family Child Care Providers in the Study
Background Characteristics of Providers
Motivation for Being a Provider
Stresses of Being a Provider
Advantages and Disadvantages of Family Child Care
Summary of Findings
Chapter Four: The Family Child Care Home
Schedule of Care
Fees and Payments for Child Care
Paying for Care
Children Enrolled in Homes
Child/Adult Ratio in Family Child Care Homes
Ethnicity of Children and Providers
The Home as a Physical Environment
Materials and Resources in Homes
Health and Safety in Homes
Summary of Findings
Chapter Five: Families in the Study
Characteristics of Families and Focus Children
Mothers’ Employment
Mothers’ Work Schedules
Mothers’ Hours Away from Home in Work-Related Activities
Stability of Employment
Mothers’ Wages
Work-related Benefits
Non-Working Mothers
Spouse’s or Partner’s Employment
Summary of Findings
Chapter Six: Choosing and Paying for Child Care
Finding Child Care
Where Do Parents Get Their Information About Child Care?
Knowledge of the Child Care Market
Reasons for Choosing Child Care Arrangements
Attitudes Toward and Beliefs about the Child Care Arrangement
Paying for Child Care
Experience with Subsidies
Summary of Findings
Chapter Seven: Work and Child Care: Stress and Flexibility for Parents
Employment-Related Benefits
Balancing the Demands of Work and Family
Other Sources of Stress
Getting to the Caregiver’s Home
Summary of Findings
Chapter Eight: The Parent-Provider Relationship: Two Perspectives
Friendship and Conflict between the Parent and Provider
Chapter Nine: Interactions between Providers and Children in the Family Child Care Home
Provider Warmth, Guidance and Supervision
Fostering Children’s Social Learning
Supporting Children’s Play
Supporting Children’s Cognitive Development
Provider Style of Engaging Children
Summary of Findings
Chapter Ten: Children’s Experiences in the Family Child Care Home
Children’s Activities in Family Child Care
Experiences of Individual Children
Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior Among Children
Adult Contact with the Focus Child
Summary of Findings
Chapter Eleven: Stability and Change in Children’s Experiences in Care
Comparison of Experiences of Children in Family Child Care and Center Care
Comparison of Experiences of Children in Family Child Care at Two Time Points
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