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Content table
S.no Contents Page.no
1 Acknowledgement 2
2 Crèche –concept and meaning 3
3 Historical background 4
4 Types of crèche 6
5 Crèches in India 13
6 Major initiatives in india(ICDS) 14
7 RGNCS 16
8 Crèches in kashmir 18
9 Methodlogy 20
10 Findings 22
11 Major study findings 34
12 Advantages and disadvantages of day care
centres
35
13 Conclusion 38
14 Recommendations 39
15 Bibliography 41
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Acknowledgement
With deep sense of gratitude we would like to register our thanks to the
“DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK” especially to Dr. Shazia Manzoor for her
kind assistance and guidance during and after our term paper.
We would like to place our heartiest thankfulness to our friends and parentsFor
their help,support,and encouragement at various stages of this study.
This acknowledgement cannot be concluded without expressing our gratitude
towards all the respondents and owners of the crèche centres who showed
tremendous patience and spent their valuable time and thus helped us to carry out
our work without much difficult.
In the end we would like to thank all those who helped us to edit and print this
report in a neat and impressive manner.Our caliber would have been incomplete or
rather vanished, if the names of those mentioned above, were not added. All these
have really helped us a lot in presenting this report by their indispensable and
inevitable help.
THANKS
Aasim Ur Rehman (17)
Aarif Hussain(39)
Sofi Umar Jan(23)
Ishfaq Ahmad Wani(19)
Muneeer Ahmad Bhat (27)
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CRECHEIntroduction
Child care ,or as it is sometimes called ,day care, refers to the care given to children by persons other than parents during that are absent. Child care can begin as early as birth and extend into the school years until children are old enough to care for themselves.Most states have laws regarding the age children can legally be left unsupervised by an adult.Child care for school –age is sometimes referred to as etended day-care.
There are several different types of child are a friend ,relative ,or sitter may come to the home and care for the child .The family may hire a nanny (someone who has received child care training )to live in .Families may cooperate and provide care by taking turns. Independent care givers may provide care for children in their homes (family day care). Parents may take children to a centre for care during the day.
According to US Department of health and human services (1980),” quality child care involves certain basics :a caregiver who provides “warm and loving care and guidance for the child and works with the family to ensure that the child develops in the best way possible ;safe ,secure and healthy”;and activities that help the child develop emotionally ,socially ,mentally and physically.
Definition
Crèche (also spelled creche ) is a “French word” that means infant bed. It also means crib (i.e. a bed for a child older than a baby.)
Other Uses of Crèche Or Creche
1. a representation of the Nativity scene
2. a hospital for orphaned infants; a foundling hospital
3. a day nursery : A place, or apartment, in a house, used for the care of children.
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4. a group of young who stay together for protection (marine biology).
In “English” it may mean:
Day care center (especially in some Commonwealth countries), an organization of adults who take care of children in place of their parents.
1 Crèche (zoology), care of other's young offspring provided by animals.
2 Nativity scene (especially in North America), a group of figures arranged to represent the birth of Jesus Christ. Also called "crib," especially in English speaking countries.
In “British English”:
Day care is the childcare during the day by a person other than the child's parents or legal guardians, typically someone outside the child's immediate family. Day care centers are known in British English as creches.
A Crèche can also be defined as “facilities that provide occasional care for children usually less than eight years old, and these facilities are provided on particular premises for more than five days a year.”
HISTORY
According to its French origin, crèche refers to crib. If this word is seen in this particular context, it refers to the animals' manger in which, according to Saint Luke, the Virgin placed Jesus when he was born. It later came to mean the Place of the Nativity and then the Nativity (The Crèche). The crèche has been displayed in churches during the period from Christmas Eve since the Middle Age, especially after St. Francis of Assisi instituted the custom in 1223 at Gréccio, Italy. It is a Christmas tradition in many homes and existed even before the custom of Christmas trees (Crèche, Columbia University Press). The appeal for crèches in the French history date back to as early as XVIIth century. These crèches depicted the infant Jesus of scenes from the lives of Christ and the saints. These figures were made of wax, bread dough or spun glass and were set in an imaginary landscape of flowers, waterfalls and animals evocative of paradise (Family Crèches).
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As crèche is closely linked to the Nativity, it is interesting to probe into its history too. Nativity plays date back to the Middle Ages when liturgical dramas, mysteries and plays were performed originally in churches. Afterwards they were acted upon just outside, in the church porch or Church Square. The first 'church crèches' emerged and replaced the theatrical style of medieval liturgies in the XVIth century (The Crèche). The 'family crèches' became popular later, in the XVIIIth century after 3the appearance of Provencal santons .
Purpose or Role of Crèche
Crèche is the concept of providing supervised childcare facilities to the children while their parents are away. The crèches are meant to provide a safe environment for young children, to ensure their healthy growth, sanitation, nutrition, play material, cradles, beds, and a supervisor who can provide a stimulating environment to the children in the absence of their parents. Crèches can serve the following purposes:
1. To provide childcare when required especially for the children of working mothers.
2. To facilitate working mothers at their workplace.
3. To allow parents to engage in activities knowing children are safe, well cared for and enjoying play opportunities.
4. To help parents in bringing up their children with confidence in normal loving, caring environment.
5. To control the problem of babysitting practices in the poor homes where the mother has to go earn wages and the elder girl is left to care for her younger siblings.
6. To encourage female employment as the mothers leave their children knowing that they are well cared for.
7. To provide an opportunity for the children to socialize with other children in group situation.
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It has been widely accepted throughout the world that the early childhood years are the most critical to health and learning of the children. Neglect in these years can cause irreversible damage while love and care provided by parents or professional caretakers can bring lifelong rewards. Crèches or day care centers are working in almost every country. Somewhere they are called Crèches and at other places they are called day care center for the children. In developed countries and in some developing countries it is a sort of business for women belonging to upper class families. They set up Crèches and charge high fee from the parents who leave their children there. In developing countries, it is usually the responsibility of the government to provide such Crèches or facilities for the middle class and lower middle class families as they are the ones who need such services the most. Government departments here are keen to help parents, especially the working parents, in rearing their children with care and love. Besides government there are plenty of privately governed institutions providing such services. These institutions may be “for profit” or “not for profit” but in most of the cases they are registered with the government to ensure the safety and security of the child.
In India especially in burgeoning urban centers both men and women need to work for their livelihood. However the working mothers face a lot of financial problems when they have to take leave from their work in order to take care of their children. This practice also highlights the importance of having feeding areas at the workplace so that mothers can easily breastfeed their children without affecting their work.
Types of Crèches
Following is a brief classification and major types of crèche:
a) Permanent crèche
As the name suggests, permanent crèches are located in permanent premises, such as a leisure center or in localities and settlements. They can also be referred to as full day care crèches because they are usually open all day. Parents of children using this facility may leave the premises. There is a full time supervisor depending upon the number of children. If there are more than ten children then the number of supervisors will also increase. The children are given meals; they are properly looked after in the absence of their parents. Various activities like Arts &
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Crafts, Storytelling, Yoga, Nature Walk and Music are undertaken to keep the children busy and at the same time provide them the opportunity to grow according to the needs.
b) Temporary crèche
These are established on a temporary basis to care for children while their parents are involved in time-limited activities, e.g. conferences, short courses, exhibitions, meetings and even entertainment activities like parties where kids can not be taken. Such crèches may also be attached to colleges, universities, or Shopping Malls etc. where children are left by their parents for short periods of time. Parents cannot leave the premises in such cases.
c) Mobile crèche
Mobile Crèches organization was set up to cater to the needs of the children of migrant construction workers. These are built on the worksite so that mothers can come to see their children and breastfeed their babies, without affecting their work adversely. Healthcare, nutrition and non- formal education are the facilities provided in these crèches. Despite their usefulness they have certain disadvantages e.g. it is hard to monitor and manage them and mostly the construction company or the owners of the Plaza/building refuse to make any contributions to meet the cost .
Below are few narrowed types of crèches that have already been classified broadly in permanent ,temporary and mobile crèches .
Government crèche
i. These are government assisted public childcare centers for infants and toddlers. These can be set up in hospitals, Colleges, Universities, government offices and even in Shopping Malls.
ii. Collective crèche
These are public infant care centers for children 2 months to 3 years old.
Family crèche
iii. These public childcare centers are run by licensed childcare providers from private homes. They can be set up by individuals privately.
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iv. Parental crèche
These provide full-time infant care. These types of centers are more common in western countries as life is too busy there.
Free Public pre-schools
Pre-school or kindergartens are designed to provide developmental and educational facilities to children between 3-6 years old. Such pre-schools are the responsibility of the government as no fee is charged and the salaries are paid by the government.
Workplace crèches
These are supplied by the employer. They are located in or near the workplace and are open during all day-time hours to provide childcare for the employees' children.
MAJOR ISSUES IN CRECHE ESTABLISHMENT
Critics advocate that day care is inherently inferior to parental care . Although their claim is right but several independent studies suggest that good day care for non-infants is not harmful. In fact, good day care can be beneficial as it provides children with different experiences than parental care, especially when children reach the age of two and are ready to interact with other children.
For the children of less skilled parents, consistent and good day care may ensure adequate early childhood education. Some significant issues should be given due consideration before establishing the creches. These issues, which are described below, can play a vital role in the successful implementation of the crèche project.
Early Childhood Development
The importance of early childhood development is indicated by several research studies internationally. From birth to seven years is a period of rapid physical, mental, emotional, social and moral growth and development in the life of a child. During this phase of their lives, children acquire concepts, skills and attitudes that lay the foundation of a lifelong learning. This time is also ideal to pass on values such as respect for human rights, appreciation of diversity, anti-bias, tolerance and
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justice. These values are important for the building of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic society.
Medical Science provides clear evidence that early interventions can ensure healthy brain development and foster the cognitive skills in the children that have long lasting effects on their growth and development, ability to learn, and capacity to self regulate behavior and emotions, all of which protect them from engaging in irresponsible and risky behaviors. The first three years of life are of paramount importance. It is the period when most brain development occurs. Children who do not receive proper care, nutrition and attention in their early childhood years, are more at risk of developing major behavioral problems, including conduct disorders, emotional disorders, and attention deficit disorders in later life.
Child Rights and Education
This leads to the importance of providing quality early childhood development services and care to children in the temporary absence of their parents. These services should consider the child's health, nutrition, education, psychosocial and other needs within the context of the family and the community. Childcare provided to school-going children in the afternoons or during holidays are aslo important as it ensures a protected environment in which attention is given to homework and children are encouraged to spend their spare time constructively. Early childcare services also have the responsibility to educate children about their rights and responsibilities as part of their developmental program so that they are grown to be confident, well-balanced and secure persons. These services are support system within the community and it is the responsibility of parents, families and community to complement them and collaborate with them.
General Characteristics and Standards
As crèches are to provide a warm, welcoming, safe and stimulating environment for every child, they must meet the required standards:
1. The basic standard requirement is for suitable and trained staff. The manager or the supervisor of the crèche, the staff and the volunteers working in the crèche must have childcare experience. They must possess suitable skills and abilities to
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care for children, including the first aid training. Preferably, all the staff must be aged 25 or above, and all the trainees under 20 years of age must be supervised.
2. An adequately lighted, ventilated and clean area must be provided for the purpose of the childcare. Staffroom and sickbay should also be provided, but this may be included in the office area.
3. At the time of admission the name, address and date of birth of every child who is looked after at the crèche must be recorded. The staff at the crèche must ensure that the child is collected by the parents from the crèche.
4. There must be an indoor and an outdoor play area in the crèche. Toilets and wash hand facilities must be provided in the ratio of 1 for every 20 children. Hot water supply to the wash hand facilities must be supervised to ensure safety of the children.
5. At least one mattress must be provided per child. The child to staff ratio must be adequate according to the number of children enrolled and the staff available e.g. one adult to three children under 2 years, one adult to four children aged 2 years, one adult to eight children aged 3 - 7 years.
Food and Nutrition
The children stay in the Crèche from morning to noon, and sometimes till late in the evening. During this time they should be served proper meals. It should be ensured that the food is of good quality. Health and hygiene of the children should be the priority, which can be ensured by providing neat, clean and safe environment. Utensils and infants' bottles must be thoroughly washed; bottles should be sterilized if possible.
Safe Play Area
The outdoor play area must be provided with a fence and all access doors to this area must be secured. The area must be free of any poisonous plants and dangerous articles, and must be well maintained. The indoor play area must be free of private furniture and suitably equipped for crèche purposes. All windows must be adequately protected to prevent children from falling out. All power points must be
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suitably protected and should be out of reach of the children. A first aid box must be provided in the crèche.
Sufficient suitable toys and play materials must be available in the crèche to provide activities and play opportunities to children. These should be appropriate for the ages and individual development needs of the children. Furniture provided should be suitably designed in good condition, and should be well maintained.
Staff Qualification
Staff qualification and specialization is very important for the success of a crèche as parents trust them for the care of their children. These people should be trained and experienced in childcare. They must have adequate first aid training to cope with any emergency at the crèche. They must preferably be of age 25 and above so that they are mature enough to care for a child efficiently. The staff of the crèche must be committed and motivated to provide childcare to the children, and must be physically and mentally capable of meeting the required development and educational needs of each child. Special consideration should be given to the character and the personality of the staff, and it should be made clear beforehand that they have never been convicted of any offence. This is of importance because children need to learn about right and wrong at the early stage and these people are there to help them learn about it.
Community Involvement
Parents, employers, state and society: they are all stakeholders as far as growth and upbringing of children is concerned. Their collaboration assumes critical importance for establishing a facility like crèche. Community involvement for crèche project may have different connotations. For example
Sending Children to the crèche is the basic level of community involvement in the project.
Parents should be motivated to send their children to the crèche rather than leaving them at home in the care of a grandparent or an elder sibling. This can be done by building trust in the parents that their children are in a safe and healthy environment while they are working.
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Employers hold crucial position to ensure community involvement. They can mobilize the support of community by catering to their needs, choosing effective communication channels, maintaining the standards of the crèche and identifying the eligible population and providing other integrated services to them.
Nominal Fee Another form of involvement can be in the form of a fee charged by the crèche administration from the parents. The parents should be motivated by the warm, safe and stimulating environment of the crèche to pay a nominal amount as a contribution. Parents may be encouraged by the education and creative arts facility being provided to their children in the crèche.
NGOs and Community Based Organizations can be encouraged to be a part of organizational structure. They can provide resources and become active partners in association with government in planning, organizing, executing, monitoring and evaluating these facilities. Permanent crèche or public crèche have community leaders on governing boards. Crèche in universities and colleges usually have parent's representation on boards. Community involvement especially in developing countries is also required for the transparency and accountability in managing such affairs.
Outsourcing Public Private Partnership Outsourcing can also provide effective support to such projects. In India, Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers has involved the civil society to run the centers. This Public Private Partnership has produced fruitful outcomes thereby resulting in the mushroom growth of these centers in other parts of the country. These NGOs provide staff, technical assistance and management to execute the processes and daily activities of the centers.
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CRECHE IN INDIA
This chapter provides an overview of crèche systems in India.
The Constitution of India reiterates that
“State shall endeavor to provide early childhood care and education to all children until they complete the age of six years”
India is the home to the largest child population in the world. As per 2001 census, India has around 157.86 million children, constituting 15.42% of India's population, who are below the age of 6 years. Of these 157.86 million children, 75.95 million children are girls and remaining 81.91 million children are boys. The sex ratio among children (0-6 years) as per Census 2001 is 927 i.e. 927 females per 1000 males. A significant proportion of these children live in economic and social environment which impedes the child's physical and mental development. These conditions include poverty, poor environmental sanitation, disease, infection, inadequate access to primary health care, inappropriate child caring and feeding practices etc.
History and Legislative Actions
History of crèche facility in India is not too old. The first mobile crèche was setup in 1969, at a construction site in Delhi. Government of India proclaimed a National Policy on Children in August 1974 declaring children as, "supremely important asset". The policy provided the required framework for assigning priority to different needs of the child. An Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme was launched in 1975 seeking to provide an integrated package of services in a convergent manner for the holistic development of the poor families.
The need for child care services has been emphasized in the National Policy for Children, 1994, National Policy for Education, 1986 and National Policy for Empowerment of Women, 2001 and the National Plan of Action for Children, 2005. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on demand for grants for the year 2002-03 has also pointed out that all sections of the society should be allowed to avail the services of the crèches.
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Labor Legislations also contain provisions for child care facilities for women workers. The National Common Minimum Program also emphasizes enhancement of child care and development services in the future.
Major Initiatives in India
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme
There are many child development programs or schemes undergoing in India but ICDS launched on 2nd October 1975 in 33 Community Development Blocks, today represents one of the world's largest programs for early childhood development. ICDS is the foremost symbol of India's commitment to her children India's response to the challenge of providing pre-school education on one hand and breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity and mortality, on the other.
It is an inter-sectoral program which seeks to directly reach out to children, below six years, especially from vulnerable and remote areas and give them a head-start by providing an integrated program of early childhood education, health and nutrition. The concept highlights the fact that no program on Early Childhood Care and Education can succeed unless mothers are also brought within its ambit as it is in the lap of the mother that human beings learn the first lessons in life.
Objectives of ICDS
1. Lay the foundation for proper psychological development of the child.
2. Improve nutritional & health status of children 0-6 years.
3. Reduce incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school drop-outs.
4. Enhance the capability of the mother and family to look after the health, nutritional and development needs of the child.
5. Achieve effective coordination of policy and implementation among various departments to promote child development
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Services
The Scheme provides an integrated approach for converging basic services through community-based workers and helpers. The services are provided at a centre called the 'Anganwadi'. The Anganwadi, literally a courtyard play centre, is a childcare centre, located within the village itself. A package of following six services is provided under the ICDS Scheme:
1. Supplementary nutrition
2. Non-formal pre-school education
3. Immunization
4. Health Check-up
5. Referral services
6. Nutrition and Health Education
The three services namely immunization, health check-up and referral are delivered through public health infrastructure viz. Health Sub Centers, Primary and Community Health Centers under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Mini-AWCs: The existing instructions also provide for setting up of Mini-Anganwadis to cover the remote and low populated hamlets/ villages in tribal blocks having a population between 150 to 300.
World Bank assistance
The World Bank has supported efforts to improve nutrition in India, in general, since 1990 through five projects. Support to ICDS, in particular, has been provided in overlapping phases during the period 1990-2006 [TINP-II, ICDS-I, II, III and ICDS-APER Projects] with a total IDA assistance of over US$ 650 million.
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Impact of the Scheme
To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout is one of the objectives of the ICDS Scheme. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has declined from 110 in 1981 to 58 per thousand live births in 2004. Similarly, under-5 mortality has declined from 161 in 1983 to 87 in 2003 [Source: Sample Registration System]. The surveys have revealed that there has been significant impact of the scheme.
Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for the Children of working mothers
This scheme is expanding rapidly throughout India. It is specially designed for the children of working mothers and it caters to the needs of the working mothers and their children. The centers working under this scheme provide good quality child care facilities. They have hired competent, skilled and experienced staff. The short term training modules have been designed for crèche workers with the help of NIPCCD, which not only helps in improving the service quality but also enhances the skills of the workers.
Criteria for selection of NGOs
The government in partnership with private sector organizations or NGOs is running these centers successfully. The new crèches are being sanctioned to the Implementing Agencies through Central Social Welfare Board, Indian Council for Child Welfare and Bhartiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh. The Crèches are allocated to a State/UT on the basis of the proportion of child population. Uncovered districts/ tribal areas under the Scheme are being given highest priority while extending the scheme to ensure balanced regional coverage. Priority is being given to those districts that do not have even one crèche.
Type of Activities to be assisted
Assistance is being provided for developing comprehensive day-care services for the babies (0-6 year) of working and other deserving women provided the monthly-income of both the parents does not exceed Rs. 12000/-.
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Schematic Pattern
The present scheme provides assistance to NGOs for running crèches for babies (0-6 years) to ensure sleeping facilities, health-care, supplementary nutrition, immunization etc. for running a crèche for 25 babi
Condition of Grants
Grants are being paid in two installments, the first installment being normally released on receipt of acceptance of conditions enumerated in the letter of sanction project. Application for the release of second or subsequent installment, made after the close of the financial year in which the project was approved shall be accompanied by a statement of accounts of the expenditure incurred during the year. Final installment is released only after audited accounts and a Utilization Certificate, signed by a Chartered Accountant, is received and found in order. On the whole this scheme is growing swiftly in other parts of the country.
Monitoring system
Government has implemented strict monitoring system to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of the centers. Thus, the independent agencies are being acquired to conduct audit, inspect the activities and evaluate the performance of the centers. Schools of Social Work, Women's Studies Centers and other reputed agencies are engaged to monitor crèche units which then submit the report to the central government. They regularly provide list of sanctioned units in their respective areas with complete address and details of the NGO. A lump sum one time grants of Rs. 10,000/- is being given to each nodal agency and Rs. 700/- per crèche visited and inspected. A uniform format is being provided to the Monitoring Agencies to ascertain that the basic minimum requirements are being met within each Crèche Center. The Monitoring Agency must review the Centers in all aspects. They must in the course of the inspection also assess the motivation and capacity of the Implementing Agencies.
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Crèches in Kashmir
With the dawn of modern age children are laden with heavy burden called ‘competition’in Kashmir. Inception of education odyssey has inculcated the notion of staying one step ahead in them. Even for admission in elementary classes,their innocent faces are countenanced with the colossal competition. To prepare and mould their children into a strong rival,parents admit them in the crèches.
Since the last decade,crèches are mushrooming at a fast pace in the valley. These institutes claim to provide quality preliminary education and overall personality development which would help them to cope up with the cut –throat competition lurking in the corners of their future.
Although it is a novel concept of educating the tender ones but it has its own ‘dark shades’. Under the brightness of education ,experts say ,children are gloomed with the depravation of the childhood.
A couple of years back in kashmir valley parents used to send their children to schools when they were 5-6 years old . previously the parents used to nourish their children and takecare of them compeletly at home. With the emergence of nuclear families becoming a norm and mothers working for jobs outside the homes ,which has given rise to new trend among parents to admit their young toddlers hardly aged 2 or 3 to crèches . these crèches provide various facilities like day dying,care ,playful activities and a new playful educational session . on the other side these crèches are good for children because it is the need of the hour expose children to basics of education at an early age as the competition for getting admission in the reputed schools has become difficult.
On its flipside some parents thought child can get proper care only at home among family themselves. we all know that the first school of a child is his/ her own home and his /her first teacher is mother .But the emergence of nuclear families and working mothers crèches all growing at a fast pace in Kashmir .
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List of crèches registered under Rajiv Ghandi national crèche scheme in Kashmir region
District Crèches No.of children(on average)
Budgam 42 13
Kulgam 13 25
Kupwara 06 21
Bandipora 09 23
Shopian 03 14
Pulwama 09 17
Ganderbal 13 22
Srinagar 25 20
Anantnag 08 11
Total 128 21
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Methodology
Study Problem:Impact of day care centres(Creches) on child development ,their advantages and disadvantages.
Target Area: Our target area was district Srinagar of Kashmir region,Jammu &Kashmir. The numbers of crèches centres in the Srinagar district is very much as compare to other districts of the Kashmir.Srinagar is the heart of Kashmir with high income families and good number of industrial units and public sector offices.
Sample selection :The sample selection of our study was both the mothers and crèche centres of district Srinagar. 6 centres and 15 mothers were also taken into study in the ratio of 1:3.
Techniques and methods of data collection
Questionnaire: A simple structured questionnaire were distributed among the crèche centres and mothers to get their feedback regarding the impact of the day care centres on the development of child,the kind of facilities available and their need in the society.
Observation schedule: Observation Schedule was also used in this study regarding the existing facilities available in the centres and analyze the shortcomings factors like child care facilities, health facilities,quality of services and other child care other requirements.
Objectives of the study
To observe the existence of crèche facility available in the Srinagar district and their service quality.
To study the impact of crèches on the development of child(physical and social development)
To examine the status of physical infrastructure and other facilities available at the crèche centres(day-care centres).
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To study the expertise and other requirements of the staff employed in the centres
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FINDINGS
Middle Intermediate Higher
20.00%
46.66%33.33%
Eductional Qualification of Mothers
Figure 1.1
InferencesFrom the above figure it is revealed that educational qualification of the respondents also vary .It also reveals that maximum no mothers have attained intermediate level of education that is 46.66% of total mothers, it also shows that 33.33% of mothers have received higher education and remaining 20% of the mothers are having middle level of educational background.
5000-10000 10000-20000 20000 above Nil
26.66%
6.66% 13.33%
53.33%
Income of Mothers
Figure 1.2
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InferencesFigure 1.2 shows the income level of the respondents’ .It reveals that half of the respondents have zero income comprising of 53.33% of our population group, 26% have income of 5000-10000, 13.33% have 10000-20000 income and 6.66% have income of above 20000.
Urban Semi-urban Rural
80%
20%0%
Ecological backgroumd
Figure 1.3
Inferences From figure 1.3 it comes forward that crèche culture is more prominent among urban settings as compared to semi-urban and rural areas. It also shows that only 20% of target population is having semi-urban background while 80% are from urban areas. It also shows that crèche culture is having no or very less scope in rural areas mainly because of the joint families there.
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Joint Nuclear0%
10%20%30%40%50%60%70%
40%60%
Family type
Figure 1.4
InferencesThe above figure reveals that 40% of the respondents belong to joint type of family and remaining 60% of the respondents belong to nuclear type of family which indicates that there is no much difference between joint and nuclear families in sending their children to day care centre. But the nuclear families have more tendencies in sending their wards to crèche centre as compared to joint family.
Government
employeePrivate job House wife Bussiness
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%
20% 20%
60%
0%
Occupation of the respondents
Figure 1.5
InferencesFigure 1.5 shows the occupation of the mothers of children who are enrolled in day care centers. It reveals the fact that in our valley the working of mother is not the main reason for sending children to crèches. The above figure also shows that
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crèche culture is not only attached to working mothers. It shows that 60% of the respondents were house wives. The working mothers comprise of only 40% of whom 20% are doing government service and another 20% are doing private service.
50000-1 lac 1 lac-2 lac 2 lac-4 lac Above 4 lac0.00%5.00%
10.00%15.00%20.00%25.00%30.00%35.00%
27%20%
33%
20%
Family annual income
Figure 1.6
Inferences The above figure admits that the respondents’ annual family income from all sources varies from middle to high income. This table also reveals that 26.66% of the total respondents have 50000-100000 annual income, 20% of the total respondents have income ranging from 100000-200000, 33.33% of the total respondents have 200000-400000 and 20% of the respondents have ,more than 400000 as family annual income.
6 months-1 year 1-2 years 2 years above0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
46.66%33.33%
20.00%
Time of availing creche service
Figure 1.7
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InferencesFigure 1.7 reveals that 46.66% of the total respondents have been availing crèche service from last 6-12 months, 33.33% of the total respondents have been availing the service from last 2 years and 20% from more than 2 Years.
1.5-2 years 2-4 years 4 years above0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
33.33%46.33%
20.00%
Age of the children enrolled.
Figure 1.8
Inferences The figure 1.8 depicts that age of the children enrolled in the crèche centers range between 1.5 years – 5 years. It shows that 33.33% of the children are of 1.5-2 years, 46.33% are in the age group of 2-4 years and 20% are above the age of 4 years.
Male Female42.00%44.00%46.00%48.00%50.00%52.00%54.00%
53.33%
46.66%
Gender of children
Figure 1.9
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InferencesFigure 1.9 shows the gender of the children going to crèche centers. It reveals that 53.33% of the total children are male and remaining 46.66% are female.
Nuclear family Busy working
scheduleFor early learning Any other
0.00%5.00%
10.00%15.00%20.00%25.00%30.00%35.00%40.00%45.00%50.00%
27%20%
47%
7%
Reason for sending child to creche.
Figure 1.10
InferencesThe above figure reveals the various reasons revealed by mothers for sending their wards to day care centers. It shows that 46.66% mothers said learning a reason, 26.66% mothers blamed nuclear family as a reason, 20% of the mothers said it is because of the busy working schedule and 6.66% mothers said reasons other than these three for sending their children to crèche centers.
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Yes No May be0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
26.66%
66.66%
6.66%
Effect on parent child relationship
Figure 1.11
InferencesThe above Figure shows the response of mothers to the question of (Do you think that crèche has an effect on parent child relationship?). The figure reveals that 66.66% mothers said no, 26.66% mothers said yes and 6.66% mothers said may be.
Very good Good Average Bad0%
10%20%30%40%50%60%
40.00%53.33%
6.66% 0.00%
Quality of services provided
Figure1.12
InferencesFigure 1.12 depicts the rating of quality of services of day care centers done by mothers. It reveals that 40% of the mothers rated the services as very good, 53.33% of mothers rated them as good, 6.66%
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Of mothers rated the services as average.
males females160
162
164
166
168
170
172
174
176
165
174
Gender of children in creche centre
figure 1.13
Infrences:The above graph mentions the male female ratio of the child enrolled in these crèches. There is no such difference in the ratio as out of 339 toddlers 48.67% were boys and 51.33% were girls.This graph also reveals that the parents are willingly send their both male and female children to day care centres without any gender differences.
Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
1
0
Facilities provided by creche
Figure 1.14
30
Infrences:The above table depicts with the facilities provided to the children in the crèche centres which points out that there is a good facility of electricity, clean toilets and sanitation, clean drinking water, safeplayground etc. these day care are equipped with the good facilities of infrastructure. As is also the outcome of the table where all the six day cares provide good facilities to toddlers .
Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Medical facilities in the centre
Figure1.15
Infrences:The above table deals with the medical facilities available in the crèche centres for the children. The outcome this table is that there is a good medical facility available in the centres. First Aid kits is also available which contains the required equipment’s and medicines all the time of in the day care. The day care centres has also linkages with the sub health centres of its adjoining areas.
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Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
1
0
Training provided to staffmembers
Figure 1.16
InferencesThe above figure admits the crèche workers traning. This table points out that the Creche workers are trained with child care skills. This training helps workers to provide better services and to build child friendlily environment in the centre. Usually central social welfare board organize these training camps which are very usefully for effective delivery of services and functioning of crèche centres .The duration of the training camps ranges from 10 to 15 days.
Regularly Sometimes Ocassionaly Never0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
100%
0% 0% 0%
Teaching and learning to children
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InferencesThe above figure under the variable teaching and learning to children discloses that the learning takes place by teaching personal hygiene habits to the children. The crèche centers also motivate parents for immunization and vaccination of children. Child care workers train the childrens to wash hands before eating the meals, brushing teeth every morning, cutting nails etc to socialize the toddlers in personal health and hygiene habits.
Regularly some times Ocassionaly Never0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Records and registers of children
Figure 1.17
InferencesThe figure mentions that the day care centers maintain records and registers to update themselves. This helps in working and effective implementation of services. Day care maintains regularly attendance of children as well as workers.
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Staff members in crèche centres
males female0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
100.00%
11.26%
88.74%
Figure 1.18
Inferences: The above table discloses that the crèche centres are mostly employing the female workers as compared to men folk this is because the toddlers from the day of birth are closely associated with their mothers.Womens have the natural skills of handling and caring childrens.That is why the crèches centres are giving more preference to female workers to work in their centres.This is also shown in the above table which points out that 88.74% of crèche workers are females and only 11.26% are male workers.
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Major study findings
1.Creche centres greatly contribute to the development of the childs behavior in a positive sense by imparting good habits of health and hygiene
2.Creche centres are well maintained according to the aspirations of the mothers.Parents feel free after sending their childrens to the day care centres.
3. During our study we find out that the trend of availing crèche facility is also common among the BPL families now a days . near about 10-12% childrens enrolled in the crèches centres belong to BPL families.
4. As the childrens need special care and protection but in the day care centres the enrollment ratio of chidrens is very high as compared to infrastructure .this may have negative impact on the childrens development.
5.In our study we find that the crèche services are not only confined to working parents(mostly mothers)but now the mothers who are busy with their house keeping works are also availing this service.
6.As it was a common notion that the nuclear families(60%) are more prone to crèche culture but our study finds that this culture is now shifting to joint families also(40%).
7.So far the concept of day-care centres are mostly dominant in urban settings.this services have not so much influence on rural settings.
8.Our study finds out that the crèche centres mostly prefer to employ only female candidates(88.74%) to work in their centres as the females posses natural skills of caring and handling childrens.
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Advantages and disadvantages of crèches centres
Advantages
One of the primary benefits of daycare center is the additional support it gives in supplementing a child’s education. Depending upon the age of your child, a center can help your child with his or her traditional education by giving them time and space to complete their homework and assisting, through tutoring or otherwise, them in finishing their assignments. Aside from this direct help, and for younger students, centers have a large breadth of educational resources and activities to keep children occupied during the day. These often include a variety of material, dealing with words, numbers, or images, using different means, physical play, drawing or writing for example. Whatever the form, these expose your child to a greater amount of material in an array of settings that increases their comprehension abilities, aiding them in life and in their schoolwork.
Aside from the direct bonus of educational help, another benefit of a daycare center is the socialization opportunities it provides children. In these businesses, children are exposed to other children from different backgrounds and from other nearby areas, which gives your child a chance to meet others, expanding their circle of friends, that they have otherwise not have the chance to know. Even if your child isn’t making friends with everyone, daycare is a chance for them to learn to get along with other children. As mentioned above, this includes working together at activities and team play in physical play.
For parents, compared to a babysitter or a nanny, these centers are a good option over a nanny or babysitter. Unlike these options, centers will keep regular hours and always be fully staffed. If a traditional sitter becomes sick, parents can be left without any childcare suddenly. Sitters can also choose to quit or move away as well. Centers, however, will be consistent institution with an agreed upon system of pay rates that shouldn’t change unexpectedly. Also, children have the opportunity to get out of the house, where they would most likely be with a regular sitter. While there is nothing wrong with being in the home, children, instead of engaging in educational activities or socializing, are usually alone and only play to pass the time. This means a child can become easily bored, spending every day at home. In order to take advantage of these amenities, be sure to carefully look over the details of the center. Check out the variety of activities they have available, the
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layout of the center, and the number of employees that work there. Also check to see if there are additional fees in their policies for any services.
Disadvantages
A toddler, just like an adult, has emotional as well as social needs. Personality of a child develops simultaneously at three stages: physical, cognitive and the social-emotional level. It is very important to provide an environment that encourages physical development and allows the children to explore and try out new things. At cognitive level, a child is at what Jean Piaget calls "pre-operational stage". At this stage a child repeatedly asks questions and is not able to perform the abstract thinking. Also the emotional development includes expressions, attachment and personality. Now the question is why should a customized playroom replace the wonderful warmth of mother's lap? Some surveys suggest that children who spent a significant portion of their infancy and early childhood in daycare settings were more likely to exhibit anti-social, aggressive and other negative behavior than peers who were taken care at ho me. At the nascent stage of child development, Love and affection from a parent are inevitable. That's what sets them up for a proper personality development. This love and care cannot be expected from a teacher in school and in no case a teacher or an aide can replace a parent.
Parents give money to a preschool and think their job is done; they think they have bought for their child an alternative to mother's embrace and father's support. But the fact is that home and playschool can never sync. We cannot simulate love; it's where it is and it will stem from there only. We cannot simulate the real sense of being protected. In nutshell the parenthood cannot simply be outsourced.
Moreover, in the name of providing basic education toddlers are burdened with workbooks and cursive writing practices. They are forced to grow in an unnatural way. The basic premise of kindergarten education is to nurture the innate capabilities of a child. The method has to be closer to the child's psyche. In fact, the communication between an adult teacher and a three-year-old cannot be too 'teacherish' to spoil the purpose of orientation. It's not the business of configuring a computer. Howsoever methodical we might appear, we are way too incapable of substituting the natural flow of mother-to-child guidance. Some crèches flaunt expensive stationery tools and glossy furniture to impress parents. But the parents
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must watch out how much mental pressure their kids are subjected to in those plush preschools. The rigid methodology prevalent at preschool level actually hinders the natural way of learning things at such a tender age. For example the weekly lesson plans and various other rigorous teaching modes turn the toddlers into mechanical objects.
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Conclusion
The conclusion regarding the day care centre(crèches) is that one of the biggest decisions parents have to make after choosing to have a child is deciding who will care for the child. Parents choose to resolve this dilemma in many ways. As part of the process of determining how care will be provided they must look at financial, career, emotional, and development considerations. They must determine which of the four types of childcare is most appropriate for their family needs and then must examine the licensing standards in their state and whether a particular caregiver meets those requirements. They must research, locate, and select a childcare facility and then finally transition both their child and themselves into that care setting.
This is an emotional and trying time for parents, but through a process that involves examining their motives for providing care, thoroughly researching and selecting an appropriate caregiver, and maintaining healthy open communication with each other, the child, and the caregiver, they can be confident in their decision and know that they have provided the best possible setting for their child.
To sum up, regarding child care(crèches) is that its effects are complex and vary primarily as a function of the quality of care provided. In other words, whether child care poses a risk to children, protects them from disadvantaged homes, or promotes good developmental outcomes depends on the quality of care. There is some indication that individual differences among children with respect to characteristics like temperament, curiosity, cognitive ability, and gender influence how children experience child care, although more research is needed on these variables. In most studies, family variables are typically better predictors of children’s development than are child care variables. Indeed, the effect of child care often depends on family factors. For example, quality child care may buffer the negative influence of maternal depression with respect to children’s social and emotional development. Families making decisions about child care arrangements should be heartened by the knowledge that, when all is said and done, it is the care they provide to their children that matters most.
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Recommendations
A building for a crèche should be constructed of heat resisting materials and should be rain proof.
The rooms should be provided with doors and windows for securing and maintaining adequate light and ventilation by free flow of air.
The building should be periodically inspected in order to see that it is safe and is being maintained under sanitary conditions.
There should be a open air playground suitably fenced for older children.
A creche should lay down rules for the minimum requirements of admission of children in terms of (a)their physical fitness (b) age upto six years and,(c) fees to be charged from their parents or guardians.
Cool and wholesome drinking water should be available for the children and the staff.Children below three years of age should be given at least ½ pint of pure milk each per day .Children should be given wholesome refreshments according to their age .
Convenient and suitable arrangements should be made for the working mothers to feed their children below two years of age during specific intervals.
Akitchen should be attached to the crèche with utensils,and other facilities provided with suitable clothing to be worn on the creche premises.
There should be suitable bath room for bathing children and for changing their clothes .
Adjoining the bathroom ,there should be a latrine for the exclusive use of children .The number of latrine seats should be at a rate of at least one for
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every fifteen children .A saperate latrine should be maintained for the use of mothers and crèche staff.
The following equipments should be provided for the children: 1 Cradle or cot with bedding or mattress. 2 Cotton sheet for each bed. 3 Rubber sheets for children below three years. 4 blanket as necessary. 5 Sand pit for play.
Every crèche should be in charge of a women with the qualification of a health visitior or with training as crèche attendant.
The working hours of the crèche should correspond to the working hours of the mothers.
The crèche should have first aid equipment kept in proper condition.
Every child should be medically examined boforeadmission ,and there should be regular check up of children every month.
A record of the periodical medical check up and weightment should be entered in the case history of each child and kept at crèche.
The crèche should maintain the following records up to date :
1 attendence and payment register
2 daily routine;and
3 case history of each child including medical report.
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Bibliography
Websites:
[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cv%C3%A8che]
[http://www.csiw.wales.gov.uk/docs/standards_creche_e.pdf.]
[http://wcd.nic.in/schemes.html#ChildrenRelatedSchemes]
[http://wcd.nic.in/schemes]
[http://www.Photowords.com/crèches%opening%20page.htm]
http://www.GK/news/2014/Apr/21/outsourcing-parenthood-14-asp .]
Robert M.Berns(1997):Child,Family,School,Community-Sociolozation and support 4th edition. Harcowrt Brace College Publishers.
UNICEF,2007:State of the Worlds Children(women&children)
