Holistic Approach to Child Caregiving

13 million children under 6 have mothers in the workforce

53% of mothers return to work in the first year of birth

By the age of 6, 84% of children have received supplemental care

To avoid risk, all areas of development of children should be considered

Good quality child care can reduce the magnitude of effects of problems

The Environment Physical Social and Emotional Cultural Economic

The Physical EnvironmentHeredity (Genetics) a.k.a. Nature

Body Type Temperament Inherited Diseases and Traits

Home Environment a.k.a. Nurture Should be healthy and protected from

harm Includes family, home, school,

neighborhood, and community May be at risk due to abuse of some

type Quality child care can reduce risk

The Social and Emotional Environment

Attachment is the goal Consistent and sensitive caregivng Quality child care = Primary

caregiver

The Economic Environment Influenced by parent’s work history,

neighborhood, community, and nation One in 5 children in the U.S. lives below the

poverty level 40% of these children have parents that are

unemployed Consider this as new welfare reforms affect

children Impact of financial stress can affect

emotions and behavior

Lack of preventive care and access to resources

= at risk Caregivers can help children by providing good

nutrition and preventive health and safety measures

Families can be helped by connecting them to resources and other community linkages

The Cultural Environment Culture = Beliefs and practices of a given

group Values conflict among and between cultures Newer immigrants and migrants less likely to

assimilate Cultural competence is the key

Caregivers should support family values as much as is possible

Awareness of diversity present in child care is important

Health Promotion, Protection, and Prevention

Knowledge of developmental aspects and issues helps to promote, protect, and prevent risk for children

Caregivers need to establish and maintain a healthy environment Using a holistic approach Being aware of organizations that help

promote well-being and prevent harm

Risk and Risk Management of Children’s Well-Being

To prevent risk to children, risk management minimizes chance of danger for children in care

Caregivers need to use Safety protection Nutrition education Health promotion

Providing High Quality Child Care

Goal One Maximizing health status of children

Goal Two Minimizing risks to health, safety, and well-being of children

Goal Three Using education as a tool to promote health and reduce risk

Goal Four Recognizing importance of guidelines, standards, and laws as they apply to the well-being of children

See Tables 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3

Reality Check:Child Care in America: The

Reality 73% of infants and toddlers are in nonparental

care part of the time and the great majority of kids by the age of 6 years have been in child care Child care has become a necessity for most

families The assumption might be that quality child

care is the norm

Several studies have shown that the majority of child care is not quality, and that most centers and family care homes do not meet children’s needs for health, safety, and secure attachments

There is no formal system to oversee family child care homes

There are no consistent federal regulations for center-based care

What is Quality Care?Caregivers

Have adequate training in child development, health, and safety

Provide sensitive, responsive care Have skills to communicate with parents

and promote nurturing Are competent in diverse cultural and

language backgrounds of children Are adequately compensated

An environment that Allows for good health and safety Provides good working conditions for

caregivers Has adequate child to caregiver ratio Has toys and equipment that are age and

developmentally appropriate Provides adequate nutrition and food safety

if providing meals and snacks

Questions How does the environment of your own

community support the physical, socioemotional, cultural, and economic lives of the children in it?

How would you rate your community? Are there any differences geographically

within your area? What might be done to make improvements?