Abstract
Child care centres in many developed countries have expanded exponentially due to the increased participation of women in the workforce. Consequently, children are spending long hours in child care settings, and hence the issue of quality of provision has come under scrutiny. Given the vulnerable age of children, particularly those birth to 3 years, researchers investigated parents’ views of a primary caregiving system in Singapore, which is an approach that aims to foster children’s holistic growth and development. Within the system, three to four infants are cared for, in the main, by one caregiver within an early childhood educational setting and supported by a team of other staff. Parents were asked specifically about their level of satisfaction with the primary caregiving system and were also asked about their level of understanding. Findings showed that 49% of the sample were satisfied and 51% were very satisfied. In relation to the second question three major themes emerged in the qualitative data from responding parents—meeting children’ needs, supporting safe and secure relationships, and improving home school communication. As primary caregiving is not used widely in Singapore it is deemed important to disseminate findings to policy makers and practitioners working in child care centres. Given the importance of primary caregiving and its application in many other countries, the findings have relevance internationally.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ainsworth, M., & Bell, S. (1974). Mother-infant interaction and the development of competence. In K. J. Connelly & J. Bruner (Eds.), The growth of competence (pp. 97–118). London and New York: Academic.
Andrews, E., & Coyne, J. (2018). Travelling the circle together, solo: An individual protocol for the Circle of Security intensive intervention. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(8), 1333–1345.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2018). 4402.0—Childhood Education and Care, Australia, June 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4402.0.
Baker, A. C., & Manfredi/Petitt, L. A. (2004). Relationships, the heart of quality care: Creating community among adults in early care settings. Washington, D.C.: NAEYC.
Bell, T. (2018). Childcare workers deserve better pay—this is what I do all day. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-22/childcare-workers-what-we-really-do-all-day/10144598.
Bernhardt, J. L. (2000). A primary caregiving system for infants and toddlers: Best for everyone involved. Young Children, 55(2), 74–80.
Bowlby, J. [1969] (2000). Attachment. In Attachment and loss (Vol. 1). New York: Basic.
Bowlby, J. [1973] (2000). Separation: Anxiety and anger. In Attachment and loss (Vol. 2). New York: Basic.
Bowlby, J. [1980] (2000). Loss: Sadness and depression. In Attachment and loss (Vol. 3). New York: Basic.
Bowlby, J., & Bowlby, R. (2005). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. New York: Routledge.
Burns, J. (2020). Early-years workers quit ‘underpaid and undervalued’ jobs. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://www.bbc.com/news/education-53649895.
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2011). Building the brain’s “air traffic control” system: How early experiences shape the development of executive function (Working Paper No. 11). Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/How-Early-Experiences-Shape-the-Development-of-Executive-Function.pdf.
Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation. (2018). A review of the effects of early childhood education. Retrieved August 30, 2020 from https://www.cese.nsw.gov.au/publications-filter/a-review-of-the-effects-of-early-childhood-education.
Child Care State Capacity Building Center. (2017). Program for infant/toddler care (PITC) six essential program practices for relationship-based care: Primary care. Retrieved August 30, 2020 from https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/program-infanttoddler-care-pitc-six-essential-program-practices-relationship-based-care.
Colmer, K., Rutherford, L., & Murphy, P. (2011). Attachment theory and primary caregiving. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 36(4), 16–20.
Cooper, G., Hoffman, K., & Powell, B. (2017). Circle of Security in child care: Putting attachment theory into practice in preschool classrooms. Zero to Three, 37, 27–34.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE.
Cryer, D., Hurwitz, S., & Wolery, M. (2000). Continuity of caregiver for infants and toddlers in center-based child care: Report on a survey of center practices. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 15(4), 497–514.
Cryer, D., Hurwitz, S., & Wolery, M. (2003). Continuity of caregiver for infants and toddlers. Retrieved December 22, 2020 from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED482881.pdf.
Davie, S. (2020). Singapore’s 15-year-olds top OECD’s Pisa global competence test. The Straits Times. Retrieved October 22, 2020 from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/singapores-15-year-olds-top-oecd-global-competence-test.
Early Childhood Development Agency. (2012). Guideline for maximum staff-child ratio for infant and child care. Retrieved September 2, 2020 from https://www.ecda.gov.sg/PressReleases/Pages/Guideline-for-maximum-staff-child-ratio-for-infant-and-child-care.aspx.
Early Childhood Development Agency. (2013). Early years development framework for child care centres. Retrieved April 1, 2020 from https://www.ecda.gov.sg/growatbeanstalk/Documents/EYDF%20eng_secured.pdf.
Early Childhood Development Agency. (2017). New early childhood development centres bill passed in parliament to raise quality of pre-school sector. Retrieved from https://www.ecda.gov.sg/PressReleases/Pages/NEW-EARLY-CHILDHOOD-DEVELOPMENT-CENTRES-BILL-PASSED-IN-PARLIAMENT-TO-RAISE-QUALITY-OF-PRE-SCHOOL-SECTOR--CHILD-CARE-CENTRES.aspx.
Early Childhood Development Agency. (2020b). Statistics on ECDCs. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://www.ecda.gov.sg/Operators/Pages/Statistics-n-Reports.aspx.
Early Childhood Development Agency. (2020a). How to be an educator? Retrieved September 2, 2020 from https://www.ecda.gov.sg/shapeourtomorrow/Pages/HowPage.aspx.
Ebbeck, M. (2001). Cultural continuities: An Australian perspective. Early Child Development and Care, 17(1), 33–46.
Ebbeck, M., & Gokhale, N. (2004). Child-rearing practices in a selected sample of parents with children in childcare in Singapore. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 5(2), 194–206.
Ebbeck, M., Phoon, D. M. Y., Tan-Chong, E. C. K., Tan, M. A. B., & Goh, M. L. M. (2015). A research study on secure attachment using the primary caregiving approach. Early Childhood Education Journal, 43(3), 233–240.
Ebbeck, M., & Waniganayake, M. (Eds.). (2016). Play in early childhood education: Learning in diverse contexts (2nd ed.). South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press.
Ebbeck, M., & Yim, H. Y. B. (2008). Fostering relationships between infants, toddlers and their primary caregivers in child care centres in Australia. In M. R. Jalongo (Ed.), Enduring bonds: Educating the young child (pp. 159–177). New York: Springer.
Ebbeck, M., & Yim, H. Y. B. (2009). Rethinking attachment: Fostering positive relationships between infants, toddlers and their primary caregivers. Early Child Development and Care, 179(7), 899–909. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430701567934.
Ebbeck, M., Yim, H. Y. B., Chan, Y. Y. Y., & Goh, M. (2016). Singaporean parents’ views of their young children’s access and use of technological devices. Early Childhood Education Journal, 44(2), 127–134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-015-0695-4.
Fantuzzo, J., Perry, M. A., & Childs, S. (2006). Parent satisfaction with educational experiences scale: A multivariate examination of parent satisfaction with early childhood education programs. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 21(2), 142–152.
Friedman, B. A., Bobrowski, P. E., & Markow, D. (2007). Predictors of parents’ satisfaction with their children’s school. Journal of Educational Administration, 45, 278–288.
Hargraves, V. (2019). Eight features of quality caregiving for infants and toddlers. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://theeducationhub.org.nz/8-tips-for-providing-quality-caregiving-for-infants-and-toddlers/.
Horm, D. M., File, N., Bryant, D., Burchinal, M., Raikes, H., Forestieri, N., et al. (2018). Associations between continuity of care in infant-toddler classrooms and child outcomes. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 42, 105–118.
Howes, C., & Smith, E. W. (1995). Relations among child care quality, teacher behavior, children’s play activities, emotional security, and cognitive activity in child care. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 10(4), 381–404.
Johnson, B., & Christensen, L. (2012). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Kelesidou, S. (2017). The role of parents’ educational level and centre type in parent satisfaction with early childhood care centres: A study in Greece. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 25(5), 768–783.
Kumar, R. (2014). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Lally, J. R. (2009). The uniqueness of infancy: How infants and toddlers develop and how development is best facilitated. Melbourne: WestEd.
Lally, J. R. (2010). School readiness begins in infancy: Social interactions during the first two years of life provide the foundation for learning. Phi Delta Kappa, 92(3), 17–21.
Lee, S. Y., Shin, M., & Recchia, S. L. (2015). Primary caregiving as a framework for preparing early childhood preservice students to understand and work with infants. Early Education and Development, 27(3), 336–351.
Lim, C. (2019). Singaporean educarers’ reflections about their role and practices in the education and care of infants. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 40, 74–95.
Lim-Lange, C. (2020). Commentary: How to sabotage your child’s future – five dangerous notions about life, careers and education. The Straits Times. Retrieved October 28, 2020 from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/common-mistakes-parenting-education-work-career-a-level-children-12445524.
Livingstone, R. (2019). Each child, every child—Building positive relationships and supportive environments. Retrieved August 30, 2020 from https://wehearyou.acecqa.gov.au/2019/02/08/each-child-every-child-building-positive-relationships-and-supportive-environments/.
Margetts, K. (2005). Responsive caregiving: Reducing the stress in infant toddler care. International Journal of Early Childhood, 3, 77–84.
McMullen, M. B. (2018). The many benefits of continuity of care for infants, toddlers, families, and caregiving staff. Young Children, 73(3), 38–39.
McMullen, M. B., Yun, N. R., Mihai, A., & Kim, H. (2016). Experiences of parents and professionals in well-established continuity of care infant toddler programs. Early Education and Development, 27, 190–220.
Melhuish, E., & Gardiner, J. (2020). Study of early education and development (SEED): Impact study on early education use and child outcomes up to age five years. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/867140/SEED_AGE_5_REPORT_FEB.pdf.
Mustard, J. F. (2008). Early childhood development: The best start for all South Australians. The State of South Australia: Department of Education and Children’s Services.
Mustard, J. F. (2008b). Investing in the early years: Closing the gap between what we know and what we do. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://dunstan.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/TIR_Reports_2007_Mustard.pdf.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Early Child Care Research Network. (2005). Duration and developmental timing of poverty and children’s cognitive and social development from birth through third grade. Child Development, 76(4), 795–810.
Ng, K. G. (2020). Singapore students top maths, science rankings for second consecutive edition of international study. The Straits Times. Retrieved December 8, 2020 from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-students-top-maths-science-rankings-for-second-consecutive-edition-of.
Omar, N. A., Nazri, M. A., Abu, N. K., & Omar, Z. (2009). Parents’ perceived service quality, satisfaction and trust of a childcare centre: Implication on loyalty. International Review of Business Research Papers, 5(5), 299–314.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2017). Starting strong 2017: Key OECD indicators on early childhood education and care. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from http://www.oecd.org/education/school/starting-strong-2017-9789264276116-en.htm.
Paulo, D. A., & Tolentino, A. (2019). Parents know best, or do they? In today’s Asia, the dilemmas of overparenting. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/do-parents-know-best-in-asia-today-dilemmas-overparenting-hyper-11726648.
Payne, S. C., Cook, A. L., & Diaz, I. (2012). Understanding childcare satisfaction and its effect on workplace outcomes: The convenience factor and the mediating role of work-family conflict. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 85, 225–244.
Raikes, H. (1993). Relationship during in infant care: Time with a high-ability teacher and infant-teacher attachment. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 8(3), 309–325.
Raikes, H. H., & Edwards, C. P. (2009). Extending the dance in infant and toddler caregiving: Enhancing attachment and relationships. Baltimore, USA: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
Read, V. (2014). Developing attachment in early years settings: Nurturing secure relationships from birth to five years. New York: Routledge.
Ruprecht, K., Elicker, J., & Choi, J. Y. (2016). Continuity of care, caregiver–child interactions, and toddler social competence and problem behaviors. Early Education and Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2016.1102034.
Singapore Department of Statistics. (2015). General household survey 2015: Key findings. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://www.singstat.gov.sg/publications/ghs/ghs2015.
Singapore Department of Statistics. (2019). Population and Population Structure. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://www.singstat.gov.sg/find-data/search-by-theme/population/population-and-population-structure/latest-data.
Singapore Ministry of Social and Family Development. (2018a). Baby bonus scheme. Retrieved September 1, 2020 from https://www.msf.gov.sg/assistance/Pages/Baby-Bonus-Scheme.aspx.
Singapore Ministry of Social and Family Development. (2018b). Child care/infant care subsidy. Retrieved September 2, 2020 from https://www.msf.gov.sg/assistance/Pages/Child-Care-Infant-Care-Subsidy.aspx.
Singapore Ministry of Social and Family Development. (2018c). Quarterly report statistics on child care services. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://www.ecda.gov.sg/Documents/Resources/Statistics_on_child_care(STENT).pdf.
Skallerud, K. (2011). School reputation and its relation to parents’ satisfaction and loyalty. International Journal of Educational Management, 25, 671–686.
Sylva, K., Melhuish, E., Sammons, P., Siraj-Blatchford, I., & Taggart, B. (2012). Preschool quality and educational outcomes at age 11: Low quality has little benefit. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 9, 109–124.
Sylva, K., Melhuish, K., Sammons, P., Siraj-Blatchford, I., Taggart, B., & Elliot, K. (2003). The effective Provision of Preschool (EPPE) Proejct: Findings from the pre-school period. Retrieved February 18, 2020 from http://www.ioe.ac.uk/cdl/eppe/pdfs/eppe_brief2503.pdf.
Tai, J. (2016). More parents put babies in infant care centres. Retrieved April 1, 2020 from http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/more-parents-put-babies-infant-care-centres.
Tan, P. L. (2019). Commentary: Be concerned about unhealthy mindsets about dating and marriage, not fewer babies. Channel News Asia. Retrieved July 28, 2019 from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/fewer-babies-lower-fertility-singapore-reasons-marriage-dating-11756474.
Thang, L. L., & Mehta, K. K. (2012). Conclusion: Change and continuity of grandparenting in contemporary Asia. In K. K. Mehta & L. L. Thang (Eds.), Experiencing grandparenthood: An Asian perspective (pp. 145–157). New York: Springer.
Toh, E. M. (2016). The Big Read: Changing lifestyles and societal attitudes feed infant-care boom. Today. Retrieved December 16, 2016 from http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/big-read-changing-lifestyles-and-societal-attitudes-feed-infant-care-boom.
US Department of Health & Human Services. (2020). Primary Caregiving. Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/infant-toddler-resource-guide/primary-caregiving.
World Health Organisation. (2020). Nurturing Care Framework: Why nurturing care? Retrieved August 31, 2020 from https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/child/nurturing-care-framework-rationale/en/#:~:text=Nurturing%20care%20refers%20to%20a,are%20emotionally%20supportive%20and%20responsive.
Wu, S., & Perisamy, A. (2020). Infant-toddler care in Singapore: Journey towards quality. Policy Futures in Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/1478210320966503.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ebbeck, M., Yim, H.Y.B., Ho, S.Y. et al. Continuity of Care: Primary Caregiving in Singapore. Early Childhood Educ J 50, 291–300 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-021-01156-7
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-021-01156-7