“Love, care, and support”: Home-based child care provider perspectives on nontraditional-hour child care quality

• In Event: Nontraditional hour child care provision, practices, and policies: Research findings on provider perspectives across states

Abstract

Despite substantial demand for child care during nontraditional hours and the prevalence of home‑based settings that provide such care, research on how quality caregiving during these hours is defined, implemented, and measured remains limited. Research indicates that there are aspects of high‑quality child care that promote children’s development regardless of setting or time of day, including responsive and nurturing relationships, predictable routines, and healthy and safe environments. Yet, some aspects of standard‑hour child care quality practices, such as curriculum, may be less relevant during early mornings, evenings, weekends, or overnights. Moreover, quality practices during these hours may look different in home‑based child care settings compared to more formal, center‑based programs. Understanding the perspectives and priorities of home‑based child care providers who offer nontraditional hour care is therefore critical to designing child care systems that meet the needs of children and families.

This paper presents findings from an exploratory study that used Photovoice and qualitative interview methods to address the research question: What caregiving practices during nontraditional hours do child care providers prioritize for children? Data come from qualitative interviews, focus groups, and photographs of caregiving practices and environments with a sample of 30 home‑based child care providers in Illinois. The sample includes both licensed family child care providers and license‑exempt family, friend, and neighbor caregivers who offer care during early mornings, evenings, weekends, and/or overnights.

Findings suggest that nontraditional hour child care has the potential to nurture children’s development while also supporting families’ work schedules. Providers prioritized stable, home‑like environments and predictable routines that nurture children’s emotional security during what some described as vulnerable times of day for children. Providers described distinct caregiving priorities across early mornings, evenings, weekend, and overnights. For example, they valued calm transitions and healthy breakfasts during early morning routines, unhurried activities and child-directed play during evening hours, family time and faith‑based experiences during weekend care, and comfort, trust, and safety during overnight care.Providers also articulated age‑specific beliefs about children’s needs during nontraditional hours. For very young children, providers emphasized affection and the replication of family practices, particularly around feeding and sleep routines. For preschoolers, providers prioritized using routines to as "teachable moments." For school‑age children, providers prioritized relaxed and comfortable environments, time for homework, emotional support, respite from school demands, and opportunities for social connection.

Program and policy implications suggest that community resources and standards for home‑based child care should explicitly address caregiving practices during nontraditional hours and acknowledge that quality during these hours may differ from standard‑hour care. Tailoring supports to providers’ caregiving priorities may increase their willingness to offer nontraditional hours of care. Findings also highlight the need for greater recognition of the critical role home‑based child care providers play in supporting both children’s development and families’ work needs.

Author

• Juliet Bromer, Erikson Institute
  Presenting Author