This study aimed to encourage picture book reading at home. In our support program, we loaned four picture books (one book a week for four weeks) to 1–5-year-old class children, and asked their parents to read books during the loan period and answer related questionnaires before, during, and after the period. Analysis of their reply revealed that the frequency that parents read picture books to their children before the loan period influenced the frequency of reading picture books and the young children’s responses to picture books during the loan period. In addition, the program increased the frequency of parent–child interaction and children’s interest in picture books after the loan period, while the children’s responses to picture books varied with age.

View full abstract

This study aimed to examine whether demographic composition of the advisory boards regarding Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and local councils affects the municipal policy to reduce child–practitioner ratios in childcare centers. Cross-sectional data were collected through a survey of municipal sections responsible for childcare centers and a portal site of official statistics of Japan. Logistic regression analysis revealed a tendency of increasing probability for municipalities to have the policy for public and private childcare centers when the local councils have a higher proportion of women. In addition, municipalities with a higher proportion of female members on the advisory boards regarding ECCE are more likely to have a policy for public childcare centers. However, the inclusion of female practitioners in the advisory boards regarding ECCE is associated with a statistically significant decrease in adopting the policy. In summary, these results suggest the importance of policymakers’ demographical characteristics on ECCE policy. Future research should explore the mechanisms on why and how their attributes make a difference in ECCE policy.

View full abstract