Child Care Centers on Saipan

Child Care Centers on SaipanFormal Child Care before Entering the First Grade

Chelsea Encio

About the ResearchThis research paper is about the importance of having children attend schools before the actual schools here in Saipan. Daycares on island are a fresh start for toddlers, they can learn to get along with other children their age and be sure they are being cared for. Preschool is where children transition and learn educational things that they will carry on to the next level. Kindergarten is where children, usually around the age four to six will be prepared to advance to the first grade. We have many daycares, preschools and kindergarten on island and what is the purpose of that? Many students start first grade in a public or private school with no educational background. It would be more difficult for the elementary teachers to start fresh just to help these new students who have no experience inside a classroom or a school environment.

Literature ReviewUsing Google Scholar search located a book called Early Childhood Education by Barbara Bowman. The book helped the student researcher transition from the importance of child education to the importance of child development, which support the theories of development and learning of children below the age of seven. A textbook called Child Development by Laura E. Berk has many theories on how different child developments process. News articles found in the Marianas Variety that talked about child care funds for the centers on Saipan that would help families in need. It helps current news items support the research essay because the funding for child care are important to the islands parents of young children, and the residents who need the educational centers to be affordable for their children to learn and grow in a fun, safe, and healthy environment. Primary and Secondary QuestionsPrimary Question:Are child care facilities effective in the island of Saipan?Secondary Question 1:If the children of the island of Saipan attend a child care facility, will it help improve their minds before they advanced to the first grade?Secondary Question 2:What helps children develop the skills and behavior to learn within a classroom environment?

MethodologyThere are three methods that were used to help gain information for this research project, one is a survey, the other is an interview, and the last one would be an observation.The survey has helped provide a generalize opinion on child care centers. The survey would be based on the experiences of the participants with child care centers in the island of Saipan. Interviewing parents of children who attend and did not attend the child care centers and a one on one interview with principals and teachers of elementary schools that have expertise on child development and learning. Observation between the different schools and child care facilities in Saipan. This method will be the most effective one because being in the classroom or child care facility to see and gain experience on how children behave and learn would provide a first person point of view information for the student researcher.

AnalysisPeople who answered the surveys left comments on pros and cons of having child care centers on Saipan and it is very effective to read what the public has to say about the centers. The interviews with the principals and teachers explained how children learn and that every one of them are different levels. Having a child come in from daycare or preschool or kindergarten has made it easier for the teachers to teach them within the class because they have the experience.Observation of the classes and centers has helped with mini interviews with students and instructors and to see what goes on within the room.

ReferencesBerk, L. (2013). Child development (9th ed.). Boston: Pearson.Day care providers complete NMC training - Saipan News, Headlines, Events, Ads | SaipanTribune. (2014, February 14). Retrieved March 11, 2015, fromhttp://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/day-care-providers-complete-nmc-training/DCCA fears lower child care fund for next 3 years. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2015, fromhttp://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/38390-dcca-fears-lower-child-carefund-for-next-3-yearsHARRIS-SOLOMON, AMY. "Child Care."Encyclopedia of Education. 2003. RetrievedFebruary 16, 2015 from Encyclopedia.com:http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G23403200105.html

NMI to recognize child care providers. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2015, fromhttp://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/55666-nmi-to-recognize-child-careprovidersNMI has 34 licensed child care centers - Saipan Tribune. (2011, July 12). Retrieved February 16,2015, from http://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/bcce0216-1dfb-11e4-aedf250bc8c9958e/(n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2015, fromhttp://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1167341?sid=21106095360923&uid=3738600&ud=2&uid=4