The Word “Safety” and What it Means in Childcare Screening
Study on the relationship parents have with childcare safety screening, the demographics influencing it, and possible solutions
“All parents face the same challenges when it comes to their children’s safety: whom to trust, whom to distrust, what to believe, what to doubt, what to fear, and what not to fear”- Gavin De Becker.
As parents, we all have a unique set of backgrounds, experiences, views, beliefs, and opinions when it comes to parenting. Childcare safety screening is not indifferent when it comes to these variables. My research and survey analysis explore these variables while comparing how different and similar views on childcare safety screening are, and if there is a need for more accessible awareness and education on the matter.
BACKGROUND
I took the opportunity as a parent and a student to take the Analytics for Design course through Boise State University’s (BSU) College of Innovation and Design (CID). This course prompted me to peer deeper into the overall discussion, confidence, needs, and awareness of childcare safety screening. The methods used were research, interviews, conducting a survey to parents, analyzing the results, and reflecting on the message (more on how I conducted the research and survey can be found here).
Unseen Fear
Do we as parents even know what safe childcare screening is? Is our confidence in selecting safe childcare based on fear which limits our circles? For a parent, being confident in selecting safe childcare may mean only selecting caregivers from your social circle, only using family or close friends (the most commonly used form of childcare in the survey), or changing your job, or family routine to ensure that you feel your child is being looked after by someone safe. Despite both interviews (fellow parents themselves) having professional experience with children-one with a master's in social work, the other a pediatric nurse, both have decided to limit or quit their jobs completely to ensure their views on safety for their children are being met.
I found the fears were not solely based on just the fear of child abuse, sexual abuse, hazards, or neglect as many informative childcare sights provide (for examples click here or here). But the intrinsic fear of trusting someone who may be lying to you about themselves, someone who holds different values, or ideas about how to safely care for your child while you are gone. Could this be stemmed down to the fear of not knowing how to confidently conduct childcare safety screening? A lack of accessibility for parents looking on how to self screen their babysitter, daycare provider, or nanny?
What the Surveyed Parents Had to Say:
“You never really know someone. Sometimes people at daycare facilities can show a really good front to get you to believe they’re wonderful.. I’ve personally had very bad experiences with people like that.”
“I no longer use childcare, except for family and friends. Too many problems came up.”
“We use one website once but the sitter lied in it. We also use a sitter recommended by a friend and was not good. We had a sitter recommended by a teacher and was fantastic. Everything feels hit or miss. No perfect answer.”
DEMOGRAPHIC VULNERABILITY
What about those whose options/support is more limited?
One and Two-Parent Households:
When asked “How comfortable are you with selecting safe childcare for your child/children?”, less than 30% of two-parent households rated themselves as having low confidence while single-parent ones were almost split 50/50.
New Parents:
60% of new parents did not feel confident in screening for safe childcare.
Positive vs Negative Past Experiences:
79% of parents who’ve had a negative experience with past childcare rated themselves having LOW confidence when it came to safe childcare screening.
But parents only having positive past childcare experiences rated themselves almost in reverse, scoring themselves with a HIGH confidence of 80%.
Special Needs Children:
While not a survey question, I did reach out to Facebook groups of families with special needs children to take my survey. Here are some of the things they had to say:
“Child care is very hard to find for children with special needs. It worked best when my husband and I staggered our work schedules.”
“I have now 5 kids all with mental and behavioral challenges and there is not a safe childcare facility that can/will be able to handle their challenges safely.”
“We have trouble because no one wants to watch our one child, she has a few issues but because of who she is it is hard to go out and have time away.”
“My child has autism and that has made finding childcare impossible and even the occasional babysitter next to impossible. Most care providers don’t have enough experience.”
To Sum Things Up
The majority of survey respondents did vote that they were confident in childcare safety screening. But the more vulnerable demographics of parents may be more at risk of having less confidence in childcare safety screening. Components such as support structures, time, schedule flexibility, having children that fall into more vulnerable categories such as those who are younger or unable to communicate when problems are arising in childcare are all components to consider when considering the need for a more accessible childcare safety screening for parents.
What Parents Want
The majority of parents felt “A Designated Website” (66.9%) would be the most helpful educational resource for parents looking for information on safe childcare screening followed by “Information Packets Given Out in Pediatric Offices” (55.8%).
This survey data could be further used by those looking to create a support group on this topic, bring awareness to vulnerable group needs/support in family counseling clinics and help recognize the need for more intrinsic and accessible childcare safety screening education for parents in pediatric offices.
Contact for more information: jessicarandall@u.boisestate.edu
Sources
How Data and Survey Was Conducted
Gavin De Becker “Protecting the Gift”
