Exploring parental philosophies regarding childcare: overlap orientations and the influence of childcare programmes on families

摘要

This exploratory study examined the beliefs held by families regarding childcare. In-depth interviews were conducted with parents of children ages 3-5 in full-day childcare. Parents described their experiences with childcare, thoughts about the continuity between childcare and home environments and other life philosophies. From the analysis of the transcripts, three themes emerged: overlap orientation, influence of the programme on the family and parental involvement. In their descriptions of continuity and discontinuity between the home and care environments, parents provided insight into their orientation regarding the appropriate overlap between these environments. The relationships between these three themes are discussed. Practical applications and directions for future research are discussed.