Assignment task: Choosing a Childcare Center
Selecting a childcare center is an important decision for families. They need to feel comfortable with their choice and be confident that their child is in a safe, caring, and nurturing environment. There are many different types of childcare facilities available and knowing the differences will help inform a family's choice. Aligning family goals with the center's philosophy, mission, and vision is an important step. As an early childhood educator, you may be asked to provide recommendations or guidance based on your knowledge of childcare philosophies and individual children.
Complete the "Choosing a Childcare Center" template to research and compare three models of childcare centers from different philosophical underpinnings. Identify characteristics of children that would succeed in each model. Based on three case scenarios of children and their family contexts, recommend which childcare centers would best support the whole child, considering their growth, development, health, safety, and nutrition needs.
Support your template with 2-3 scholarly resources.
Choosing a Childcare Center
Part 1: Comparing Early Childhood Philosophies/Models
Research three types of early childhood facilities, representing a variety of philosophies/models. Examples include, but are not limited to: play-based, STEM, bilingual, Montessori, academic. In 250-300 words, address the following using scholarly research to support your claims:
- Compare the three philosophies/models.
- Describe the characteristics of a child that would succeed in each philosophical model.
Part 2: Conversations with Families
Imagine three families ask you for your professional advice and counsel on choosing the best childcare centers for their children. Read each case scenario and in 100-150 words per child, discuss the following:
- Recommend a childcare center and provide a rationale. Include the family's context, goals, and parenting styles in your justification.
- Discuss how the philosophy/model of the childcare center would support the whole child, including growth, development, health, safety, and nutrition needs.
Case Scenario 1: Eleanor
Eleanor is a five-year-old girl with fiery, red hair and a strong personality. She lives with both her mother and father and is the oldest of three siblings. Both parents are highly involved in the child-rearing and read parenting books together at night. Eleanor's father believes that children will learn in their own time and does not believe inpushing children with academics before third grade. Eleanor has an extensive vocabulary, is advanced for her age, already reading chapter books and trilingual, knowing English, Spanish, and American Sign Language(ASL). Eleanor is a bit of a loner and has trouble making friends. She loves Legos, cooking, and Barbies.
Case Scenario 2: Oliver
Oliver is a four-year-old boy raised by a single mother. His mother works 10-hour shifts at a local restaurant, so Oliver spends most of his day with his elderly grandparents. Oliver enjoys playing video games and averages 4 hours of screen time a day. Oliver's grandparents are struggling to care for him, so his mother is looking for a daycare/preschool for Oliver. His mother earned her GED and self-reports not knowing a lot about education.
Case Scenario 3: Ciara
Ciara is a three-year-old girl who lives with her mother, father, grandmother, and four siblings. Ciara's mother is monolingual only speaking Spanish, but her father is bilingual and speaks Spanish and some English. As the youngest child, Ciara is lacking verbal skills and rarely speaks. Ciara loves to have books read to her and enjoys coloring. Ciara's mother is busy taking care of the family and her father is busy running his landscape business. Education is important to both parents and they believe a strong academic foundation is best.
Part 3: Reflection
In 150-200 words, reflect on which early childhood philosophy/model you align with the most and provide a rationale. Describe characteristics of your ideal context to teach in for your current or future professional practice.