Childcare Places Research Articles

The association of schooling, sibling life situation, and dietary habits with the estimated 24-h urinary salt excretion and sodium-to-potassium ratio in 3-year-old children

ABSTRACT Objectives We examined the association of schooling, sibling life situation, and dietary habits with the estimated 24-h urinary salt excretion and the urinary sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio in 3-year-old children. Methods The subjects were 639 children who underwent a health checkup in four cities and towns in Kyoto Prefecture from January to November 2019. The children’s parents answered questionnaires about weekday childcare places, the birth order, and the awareness of reducing the salt intake. The questions on food intake frequency included 10 items. The estimated 24-h salt excretion and Na/K ratio were calculated from the participants’ first voiding urine in the morning. Results Data were available for 294 children. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) of salt excretion (g/day) was 2.6 (1.7–3.4), and urinary Na/K ratio (mmol ratio) was 2.6 (1.6–4.1). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that the group with older siblings was significantly associated with high salt (odds ratio 1.89 (95% confidence interval 1.04 to 3.46)). In the urinary Na/K ratio, the nursery group had a significantly lower Na/K (odds ratio 0.32 (0.17 to 0.60)). High processed meat products intake was associated with a higher Na/K (odds ratio 1.96 (1.05–3.66)), whereas high vegetable intake was associated with a lower Na/K (odds ratio 0.45 (0.23–0.87)). Other factors showed no significant associations. Conclusions In Japanese 3-year-old children, the estimated 24-h urinary salt excretion was associated with older siblings, and the urinary Na/K ratios were associated with schooling situation and the intake of processed meat products and vegetables.

Prevalence and factors of sleep problems among Japanese children: a population-based study.

High prevalence of sleep problems in not only children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDS) but also non NDS has been established. However, there are few studies that have looked into population-based and age-specific prevalence of sleep problems of children. Moreover, there are even fewer studies that have investigated the correlation of demographic and lifestyle-related factors affecting sleep problems in children. Considering these, the purpose of this study is to assess the correlation of the prevalence of sleep problems and selected socio-demographic and lifestyle-related factors in 5-year-old Japanese children in population-based study. Study children (SC) were recruited from two cohorts of the Hirosaki City 5-Year-Old Child Developmental Health Checkup Study. The first cohort consisted of 281 (162 males, 119 females) children recruited from 2014 to 2015, and the second cohort consisted of 2055 (1,068 males, 987 females) children from 2018 to 2019. In total there were 2,336 SC participants (1,230 males and 1,106 females). To determine the prevalence of sleep problems the Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Preschoolers (JSQ-P) was utilized, and sleep problems are defined by a total score of ≥86. To determine socio-demographic and lifestyle-related factors affecting sleep, 10 factors (NDS diagnosis, birth month, childcare place, income, number of siblings, bedtime, waking time, sleeping hours, sleep onset delay, and screen time) were selected. Finally, to determine the correlation between prevalence of sleep problems and the selected demographic and lifestyle-related factors, data was analyzed using chi-square test. The prevalence rate of sleep problems in 5-year-olds was 18% (369/2,055). Further, the prevalence of sleep problems was high in participants with ASD (50.4%), ADHD (39.8%), <2 million yen of income (30.5%), no siblings (24.2%), >22:00 of bedtime (30.7%), >7:30 of waking time (30.7%), <9 h of sleeping hours (25.3%), >30 min of sleep onset delay (35.3%), and ≥2 h of screen time (21.1%). The findings report 18% prevalence rate of sleep problems in 5-year-old children. Further, the findings establish a significant correlation of sleep problems and NDS, specific socio-demographic, and lifestyle-related factors. In considering the identified modifiable lifestyle-related factors contributing to sleep problems among the participants (i.e., bed/waking times and screen times), sleep programs to address these concerns are suggested.

Supporting second language acquisition of bilingual preschool children through professionalization of caregivers in specialized preschool programs.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of a training program on language support strategies and dialogic reading for caregivers working in specialized preschool programs. These programs serve children without a regular childcare place who grow up with one or more languages other than German as the environmental language. Recent studies investigating the development of children attending these programs found only moderate improvements in German receptive language skills, while language support quality of the programs was rated as average. We assessed receptive second language competencies in vocabulary and grammar of n = 48 children and language support competencies of n = 15 caregivers using an interventional pre-posttest design. Receptive vocabulary skills of children supported by trained caregivers (intervention group) were compared to children supported by untrained caregivers (control group, n = 43). We found that both children's and caregivers' competencies increased from pre- to posttest, whereas the control group's receptive vocabulary skills did not increase noticeably. The caregivers' language support competencies influenced the increase of children's receptive grammar but not vocabulary skills. The comparison between the intervention group and control group consistently showed no effect of group membership on children's receptive vocabulary acquisition over time. Since the control group data came from a secondary analysis, only receptive vocabulary skills could be compared. The preliminary results of our study suggest that a caregivers' training on language support strategies and dialogic reading in everyday educational situations support bilingual children's grammar acquisition.

Uptake of formal childcare among second generation and native mothers in Belgium: can increasing local childcare availability narrow migrant-native gaps?

Research indicates that the uptake of formal childcare for children under age 3 is lower among migrant origin parents than among native parents in most European countries, and that these differentials extend to the second generation. Despite considerable investments in formal childcare availability in many European countries, it remains unclear whether and to what extent expanding local childcare availability effectively diminishes migrant-native uptake differentials due to the lack of longitudinal research. Therefore, this study assesses for Belgium to what extent expansions in childcare availability within municipalities in the period 2010–2014 has increased the uptake of formal childcare for children under age 3 among households where the mother has a second generation Southern European, Maghreb or Turkish background, versus no migration background. We use longitudinal census and register data for Belgium that were linked to longitudinal tax return data on childcare expenses and municipality-level data on childcare availability for children aged 0–3. Our results show that Southern European and Turkish origin mothers become more likely to use formal childcare when childcare places become more widely available within their municipalities, but also that the uptake gap with native mothers persists, since there is no differential effect of increasing local childcare availability. Since local childcare expansions entail a slightly stronger increase in formal childcare uptake among Maghreb origin mothers compared to native mothers, this results in slightly decreasing migrant-native uptake gaps, although considerable uptake gaps remain. To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study addressing the relationship between local childcare availability and uptake differentials by migration background. This study can inspire avenues for follow-up research which could provide additional insight into the possible mechanisms behind the varying effects of increasing local childcare availability by migration background and the persisting migrant-native uptake gaps.

공동육아나눔터 영어교육 프로그램 연구

공동육아나눔터 영어교육 프로그램 연구

Has ‘Nordic Turn’ in Japan crystalized?: politics of promoting parental leave take-up among fathers and the divergence from the Nordic system

ABSTRACTMichael Rush sheds light on the Japanese ‘Nordic Turn’ in the family policy, including a father-friendly parental leave scheme after the 2000s in his work published in 2015. Despite this and the Japanese Government's apparent desire to encourage fathers to take parental leave, the policy does not seem effective as in Nordic countries. This paper examines what makes Japan's statutory parental leave scheme difficult to work like the ones in Nordic countries by analyzing the process of the amendments of the leave scheme after the 2014 amendment. The study pays particular attention to the views expressed by the various actors involved in the law-making process on the issue of the inconsistency between bonus months, which is a father quota, and the special extension of parental leave in case of no childcare place, and how this was reflected in the final bill. The paper reveals that the process was not confined to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare but was heavily influenced by the work of the Cabinet Office, project teams of the ruling party, and private groups promoting work-life balance measures. Partly because of this, the Japanese parental leave system has diverged significantly from the Nordic and German systems to which it was originally referred.

The circadian preferences in the context of sociodemographic indicators and lifestyle

ABSTRACT Circadian preferences are frequently used as a synonym for chronotype. Both terms are based on different principles and are measured by a variant questionnaire. We focused on circadian preferences, delimited as an individual preference for the timing of various activities, and their relationship to the selected sociodemographic factors. All participants (n = 2068) filled out online questionnaires including MEQ, MCTQ, and sociodemographic information (age, sex, place of residence, marital status, childcare, education, financial security, physical and mental health). Although the concept of chronotype and circadian preference differ, the mutual correlation was high. Our results of the observed variables are similar to other studies. We revealed evening preference is related to a higher probability of living in a big city, having a single life, a higher risk of smoking, worse health status, and worse financial security. We observed a higher social jet lag among them. Our research complies with previous studies, which found that in some areas, people with evening preferences evince worse results. Due to the evening preference, these people are at a disadvantage, and the society’s setting for morning operations can lead to a deepening of these differences. We recommend further research, which would focus on the practical application of results to the everyday life of participants to create preventive programs aimed at reducing the negative impact of evening preferences on life.

Improvement in Space Composition and Management in Cooperative Childcare Place

This study aims to suggest physical standards and supplementary operation data for the cooperative childcare place established to reduce the burden on parents and increase social activities for them and their children through actual space or facility condition, operation, and usage analysis. Therefore, it is necessary to (1) establish the size standard of the cooperative childcare place and establish the differentiated placement standard of the number of rooms and the facilities according to the size, (2) divide the cooperative childcare place into main, auxiliary, and other spaces, (3) make the main space a variable one, (4) assign personnel such as supervisors and paid volunteers to the cooperative childcare place, set fixed working hours, and extend the time that the children remain in the childcare.

Families face childcare barriers as councils report lack of sufficiency

Report from Coram Family and Childcare reveals a fall in the availability of funded childcare places, with the problem particularly acute in disadvantaged areas and for children with special educational needs

The production of “rhythms of responsibility” for childcare in a post-socialist society

ABSTRACT Drawing on 32 face-to-face interviews with mothers and childcare providers in Latvia, this paper examines the mundane mobilities. We argue that attention to mundane mobilities reveals crucial arrangements of childcare rhythms. Moving to and from childcare places, and around homes with children are central to the provision of childcare. These mobilities are expressed in temporal and personal rhythms, continuities, and disruptions. Mundane mobilities link locations between family and care providers. Childcare mobilities are further shaped by a reduction in the formal supply of childcare in post-socialist Latvia and its replacement by informal arrangements. Through the morally negotiated responsibilities of informal childcare, certain rhythms emerge, including care-time in neighbourhoods, walking and other travel routines, and play activities with children. The paper’s theoretical contribution builds on geographical and sociological interpretations of the mobility literature, here with a focus on rhythm analysis applied to childcare in everyday life. Its applied contribution rests on an understanding of how precarity is experienced, and responsibilities negotiated, with a special focus on a post-socialist society.

The climate influence on the way and place of childcare and its impact on children's health

ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to look at the effects of climate on the way and place of childcare and their impact on children's health. MethodThe method used is field exploration by observing how parents take care of their children, and measuring the temperature and humidity of the caregiver, besides looking for secondary data at the local health center regarding the level of health of infants (health center visits for treatment and types of diseases that are mainly affected by climate). ResultSoil as a reservoir for germs occurs because the residential environment is not clean due to a poor drainage system which results in dirty water not being channeled properly, being absorbed into the soil and stagnant. In addition, high wind speeds also have an impact on household displacement from endemic places into settlements. It takes non-physical and physical efforts to prevent children from contracting the disease. Non-physical efforts through good behavior, and physically by making playtime comfortable and safe for children. ConclusionChildren who play in nature using soil media are at risk of causing disease. Soil as a reservoir for germs occurs because the residential environment is not clean due to a poor drainage system, resulting in dirty water not being channeled properly, absorbed into the soil and stagnant.

Subsidies for parental leave and formal childcare: be careful what you wish for

I exploit the introduction of a policy package in France aimed at helping parents with the care of young children. The reform affected all households with pre-school age children and had two dimensions: a short stay-home subsidy for first-time mothers wishing to take-up parental leave and an increase in childcare subsidies for parents using childminders—the main formal care option in France. Importantly, policymakers did not explicitly intervene in the childcare infrastructures. I rely on a diff-in-diff empirical strategy to evaluate the labour market outcomes of mothers with pre-school age children in the short-run and the long-run. The reform had negligible effects in the short-run. In the long-run though, first-time mothers—and particularly the lower-educated group—took advantage of the parental leave subsidies to reduce their employment rate. This freed up formal childcare places and allowed middle-class educated mothers of two children to use the more generous childcare subsidies and therefore work more. The fact that the effects take time to materialise and do not appear at the aggregate level for the targeted population suggests that the policy did not induce any net increase in the supply of care places and simply led to a re-allocation of care modes among mothers of pre-school age children.

Long Run Effects of Universal Childcare on Personality Traits

Although universal childcare has become an essential tool to support child development, few economic studies analyze its effects on non-cognitive skills and little is known about causal effects on these skills in the long run. In this paper we go beyond short run analyses and examine the long run effects of one additional year of universal childcare on students’ personality traits in adolescence. We focus on personality traits as part of their non-cognitive skills set and as important predictors of later educational achievements. As of 1996, a legal entitlement to universal childcare applied to children of three years and older in Germany. However, severe shortages in the former-West meant that many children could not get a childcare place and had to wait a full year until the next entry date. Using data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) we estimate effects of one additional year of childcare by exploiting geographical variation in the timing of childcare entry arising from local supply constraints. We find that an earlier entry in universal childcare increases extroversion in adolescence, which has been shown to be associated with favorable labor market outcomes.

Equal Opportunities in Academic Careers? How Mid-Career Scientists at ETH Zurich Evaluate the Impact of Their Gender and Age

Gender equality is essential to social justice and sustainable development in the higher education sector. An important aspect thereof is to promote equal opportunities for academic careers. This study investigates the current situation and possibilities for improvement in this regard from the perspectives of mid-career scientists in a sustainability-oriented university department. A survey of scientists from the postdoctoral to adjunct professor level (N = 82) in the Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS) of ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich) was thus conducted to investigate judgements, experiences, and ideas for improvement concerning equal career opportunities. About 90% of the respondents perceived no disadvantages based on gender, ethnicity, race, or faith. However, about 30% felt disadvantaged due to their age. Comments revealed not a single case in which latter disadvantages were based on prejudice. Instead, ETH-wide or national age and time-based restrictions for certain positions caused the inequality perceptions. Furthermore, comments indicated that these restrictions can disadvantage scientists taking care of children. Some participants suggested a revision or removal of corresponding rules. Further suggestions included an improved availability of childcare places. ETH Zurich recently undertook great efforts to provide excellent and affordable childcare services, increasing the number of available places by about 30% in the year following this survey.

Equal Opportunities in Academic Careers? How Mid-Career Scientists at ETH Zurich Evaluate the Impact of Their Gender and Age

Gender equality is essential to social justice and sustainable development in the higher education sector. An important aspect thereof is to promote equal opportunities for academic careers. This study investigates the current situation and possibilities for improvement in this regard from the perspectives of mid-career scientists in a sustainability-oriented university department. A survey of scientists from the postdoctoral to adjunct professor level (N = 82) in the Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS) of ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich) was thus conducted to investigate judgements, experiences, and ideas for improvement concerning equal career opportunities. About 90% of the respondents perceived no disadvantages based on gender, ethnicity, race, or faith. However, about 30% felt disadvantaged due to their age. Comments revealed not a single case in which latter disadvantages were based on prejudice. Instead, ETH-wide or national age and time-based restrictions for certain positions caused the inequality perceptions. Furthermore, comments indicated that these restrictions can disadvantage scientists taking care of children. Some participants suggested a revision or removal of corresponding rules. Further suggestions included an improved availability of childcare places. ETH Zurich recently undertook great efforts to provide excellent and affordable childcare services, increasing the number of available places by about 30% in the year following this survey.

제주 지역 공동육아나눔터 운영 실태 연구

제주 지역 공동육아나눔터 운영 실태 연구

Recruitment crisis is already here

Sector-wide, research estimates that there are currently 24,600 situations vacant. With settings finding these hard to fill, the government needs to act before there is a shortage of available childcare places.

‘Buddies’ boost for 30-hour places

Department for Education hopes “buddy” scheme will help councils to create enough childcare places

Childcare recruitment crisis risks creating shortage of placements

Recruitment of early years staff is falling fast as a result of the planned introduction of tougher qualification standards, prompting many experts to call for them to be scrapped or face a shortage in childcare places

東京都内の種別が異なる小規模保育拠点における都市環境の利用・評価に関する研究

In this paper, the situation of outing (childcare in public spaces) was examined targeting the small-scale bases and authorized nurseries. We also compared the evaluations and needs of the urban environment based on children' s age and head-count, though the investigation of different type of bases that are located in the same region and their area of outing are overlapping. The major findings are as follows: 1) Outing is routine at any kind of establishment, children and caregivers are outing every day from the bases of family like babysitters and authenticated nurseries. Although the total time of outing is longest at authorized nurseries, children and caregiver are outing airily in a short time at small scale-childcare basis. 2) Taking advantage of the urban environment greatly enriches the quality of childcare, as caregivers report that it operates relieve children' s stress, have experience that outside of a room, and learn public rules as the significance and purpose of outing childcare. 3) The most prominent activity for family-like babysitters involves walking. For this reason, enriching the environments with paths, such as walkways and promenades, is effective in improving the quality of childcare. In the case of authenticated nurseries, children and caregivers often stay at a distance of around 300 to 400 meters from their base. Therefore, it is desirable that there are destinations such as appropriately scaled parks within this distance range. In addition, in the case of the authorized nursery, in cases where it is difficult for children and caregivers to stop during on the street, then outing may be positioned as an opportunity to learn the public rules. 4) Different Parks or places are selected depending on children' s ages and the type of bases that use the same area as the place of outing childcare. It is considered that the target age of equipment in the park and the probability to use there with children of various ages are effectively and properly utilizing urban space. 5) Based on the caregivers' environmental evaluation at the time of outing childcare, the comments on nature, animals and presence of play location are large in any base type. Since the comments regarding childcare of the urban environmental elements has the highest mention rate in the authorized nurseries, it can be said that unique value is placed on outing is more common. 6) The mention rate of ease of movement is the same between the authenticated nurseries and family-like babysitters, and safety is especially high in authenticated nurseries. In this way, we confirmed that there is a difference in the point of view of the urban environment evaluation depending on the type of base. Given these findings, the authors find it important to authorize and assess the children' s age and head-count and the corresponding surrounding environment when the bases establishing. Further, during the maintenance and updating of urban spaces, it should be considered what kind of bases will be established by the municipality. Then the urban environment will be more efficiently enhanced the value as a place for childcare. For example, it is important to more greatly prioritize promenade maintenance and policy to enhance small-scale bases, and to support the proper use of locations by setting different equipment at each park based on target age or occupancy instead with uniformly. Copyright © 2016 Architectural Institute of Japan Language: ja