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 Who Use It
Wave 1 Report

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Title Page

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 of Family Child Care

Measures for the Study

Recruiting the Sample

Chapter Three: Description of the Parent and Provider Samples

Characteristics of Families and Focus Children

Characteristics of Providers

Characteristics of the Homes

Chapter Four: Parents’ Employment Patterns and Schedules

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 Five: Child Care Arrangements

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 Six: 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 Seven: The Relationship Between the Parent and the Family Child Care Provider

Friendship and Conflict between the Parent and Provider

Provider Attitudes about Parents of Children in Care

Parent Attitudes Towards Their Family Child Care Provider

Summary of Findings

Chapter Eight: The Family Child Care Provider

Reasons Providers Care for Children

Advantages and Disadvantages of Family Child Care

Stresses on Providers

Income from Child Care

Aspects of the Care Arrangement

Summary of Findings

Chapter Nine: The Family Child Care Environment

Space in Homes

Materials and Resources in Homes

Health and Safety in Homes

Summary of Findings

Chapter Ten: The Provider’s Interaction with Children

Provider Warmth, Guidance and Supervision

Fostering Children’s Social Learning

Supporting Children’s Play

Supporting Children’s Learning

Provider Emotional Responsiveness to Children

Summary of Findings

Chapter Eleven: Children’s Experiences in the Family Child Care Environment

Children’s Activities

Indications of Stress

Provider Involvement

Comparison with Child Care Centers

Summary of Findings

Chapter Twelve: The Focus Child’s Experiences in the Family Child Care Home

Child Object Play

Focus Child’s Play with Peers

Child’s Use of Language

Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior Among Children

Adult Contact with the Focus Child

Adult Language to the Child

Summary of Findings

Conclusions

References