Parental Strategies Employed to Facilitate Adjustment of Children in Laboratory Day Care Centre

Abstract

The present study aimed at studying the strategies employed by parents to facilitate the adjustment of children in the Laboratory Day Care Centre (LDCC). The study was based upon a sample of 32 (15 male and 17 female) children admitted in April, 2009 and 2010 sessions, as well as 'Parents of the sample children (n=32)' and 'Care Providers (n=3)'. Observation- cum-Interview method was used for data collection for the study. Based on their non-adjustment reactions, the children were divided into two categories, viz. 'Early Adjusting Children' and 'Late Adjusting Children'. This categorization was based on an opinion survey conducted in the five 'Early Childhood Care Centres' in Ludhiana City. As per the opinion of the supervisors, 3 weeks time period was kept as the demarcating line for 'Early and Late Adjusting' categories of children. Therefore, all the children taking more than 3 weeks time for their comfortable adjustment to the LDCC were designated as the 'Late Adjusting Children'. The results of the study highlighted that statistically significant dif ferences existed between the strategies adopted by the parents of 'Early and Late Adjusting Children' to assist their child in his transition from home to Laboratory Day Care Centre. In majority of the dimensions investigated, the parents of the 'Early Adjusting Children' were using the pro-adjustment strategies more aggressively as compared to the parents of 'Late Adjusting Children'.