2022 Volume 60 Issue 1 Pages 45-56
This study investigated the relationship between the development of socio-emotional abilities of 1- to 2-year-old children and the environment of childcare centers. Participants were 829 parents and their children (median age = 25.7 months old) and centers and 378 childcare teachers in 57 public childcare. Children’s socio-emotional characteristics (i.e., social competence and problem behaviors) were rated by their parents, and the environment of childcare centers was rated by childcare teachers. The results revealed that the good play environment of childcare centers contributed significantly to low problem behaviors among 1- to 2-year-old children even when child factors (i.e., age, sex, and birth order) and family factors (e.g., family income, parents education levels, and parent’s nurturing attitude) were considered. In particular, the environment of childcare centers had a pronounced effect if parents were less responsible for child rearing. Our study suggested that the environment of childcare centers is important for children who spend long hours there.
