Childcare: The benefits for families and society

The importance of good quality childcare has become a very topical issue and one of huge relevance for mothers who wish, in addition to their caring role, to contribute to the improvement of the family's standard of living.

According to local information, there are about 50 childcare facilities in Malta with an estimated 1,000 children younger than three years making use of this service. From these numbers one can see that childcare provision is an expanding industry that caters for an ever growing demand that can only be met by the provision of good quality care that supports, complements and enhances family life.

For many parents the choice of a childcare provider can be a difficult and daunting task as such services are not, as yet, well advertised in Malta. Many parents make these choices either through the recommendations of their families and/or friends or because of the feasibility of the location of the childcare facility, due to its vicinity to their home or workplace. However, one has to understand that the delivery of quality childcare is particularly critical for the well-being and mental and physical development of children. A trustworthy and dependable childcare service makes it possible for parents to continue to work in the knowledge that their children are being properly cared for.

Assuming that mothers are usually responsible for the choice of care of their children, knowing "what women want" is an important question to be answered when planning childcare provision. Work and family literature has also explored mothers' views on what constitutes "good" motherhood and influences their decisions about whether to use childcare or not.

The type of childcare preferred by mothers has been linked to mothers' childrearing beliefs and their own understanding of what being a good mother means. Therefore, childcare provision needs to respond to this in order for parents to be reassured about the care their children receive.

Furthermore, childcare research has shown that high quality care can impact positively upon children's intellectual, language and social skills and behaviour.

So what is quality care and what do parents need to look for when choosing a particular service?

"Small children looked after away from home have a right to a loving relationship with a particular caregiver, to be offered the best possible conditions and materials to explain and experiment, appropriate to their age, to see their culture and language valued, and their close adults working in harmony with each other" (Goldschmeid & Jackson 1994).

Quality care is characterised by a warm, welcoming and open attitude to parents and children. Children receiving the service are happy and engrossed in the various activities organised by the service, from structured activities to free play and self expression. The service providers encourage parental feedback and involvement in the provision of the service and share with parents, on a daily basis, the particular achievements of each individual child. Quality care provision is evidenced by the confidence and independence of the children and by the development of their social skills, expressed through sharing, group work and interaction with both the other children and the adult caregivers.

Factors that contribute to quality childcare are:

• Low child to carer ratio so that children can receive individual attention.

• A safe and healthy environment.

• Caregivers who are nurturing and knowledgeable about children's development.

Many people believe that providing childcare comes naturally, but teaching and caring for children in groups takes special skills. The best childcare providers receive formal education and training on childcare. Qualified caregivers learn how to plan the day, provide nutritious foods and fun activities that children will like.

The publication of the Standards for Child Care Facilities by the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity (MFSS) introduced the Department for Social Welfare Standards (DSWS) as the official body to regulate and monitor the social welfare sector. The department's approach to the regulation of this sector is exemplified in its mission statement: Improving social welfare standards through dialogue and regulation.

During the last year, the DSWS has been working hand in hand with service providers with the result that 26 childcare facilities are now in possession of a provisional registration signifying their motivation to work with the DSWS towards improving standards in childcare provision. The department also offers an advice service to parents/legal guardians of children under three years of age who want to know more about childcare. The DSWS takes it as a positive sign that people call to enquire about childcare and encourages and welcomes parental feedback and suggestions regarding improvements to childcare provision.

The DSWS provisionally registers and monitors the provision of the day care services, measuring compliance with the 10 standards as set out by the MFSS. These standards are there to help you, the parent, to know what to expect from a child day care service and it also guides the service provider to meet the levels of quality that childcare demands. The standards provide a holistic approach to quality childcare from the basic physical criteria for health and safety to appropriate training, aptitude and attitude of staff. The parents' relationship with the day care and communication between parents and caregivers are other key factors in quality care.

Recent studies show that children who attend a day care centre have a secure mother-child attachment despite statements to the contrary. Day care centres seem to be an excellent environment for socialisation. Children discover it to be a fertile ground for learning to cooperate, understand different social rules and develop more social awareness as well as better moral judgment.

More information on quality childcare as well as a downloadable copy of the standards can be obtained from www.mfss.gov.mt. DSWS can be contacted on 2144 1311-3.

Dr Grech is director of the Department for Social Welfare Standards.