• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2020

The trend emphasizes children-oriented, play-oriented ecological education programs for children's ecological education. And most of these nature -friendly and eco-friendly education takes place outdoors. Therefore, outdoor space planning is important in childcare facilities. This case study aims to analyze the actual conditions of outdoor spaces in daycare centers and to provide standard data for outdoor space planning. In order to provide basic data on the improvement direction and planning standards of outdoor spaces, this present study conducted the composition, utilization status and related problems of outdoor spaces for nature -friendly ecological education in childcare facilities. Accordingly, outdoor space planning for ecological education should consider outdoor space characteristics such as free and easy accessibility between indoor and outdoor spaces, openness of space, flexibility, dynamic/static space, and nature affinity. Therefore, for an ecological education environment, children should be able to freely approach nature and play in the natural environment without any restrictions and artificial controls. Also, in urban areas, natural environment such as parks and open spaces should be considered as outdoor play spaces for children.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.32 no.11
• /
• pp.1001-1010
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the concentration levels of particle materials ($PM_{10}$, asbestos), gas materials ($CO_2$, CO, $NO_2$, HCHO, Rn, VOCs) and total suspended colony (TSC), and the correlations among these materials in indoor air quality of 54 multiple-use facilities and 15 public-use facilities of Gwangju. The highest mean concentration of $PM_{10}$ was $69.2\;{\mu}g/m^3$ at indoor parking place, followed by childcare facilities, large commercial building and subway station building. The highest mean concentration of CO was 2.7 ppm at indoor parking place and that of $CO_2$ was 604.1 ppm at medical service facilities. The highest mean concentration of $NO_2$ was 0.036 ppm at indoor parking place. The geomean concentration of HCHO was $3.6\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in all facilities and the highest was $631.8\;{\mu}g/m^3$ at art gallery. The geomean concentration of VOCs (5 species) was $24.14\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in all facilities and toluene was the highest material of $15.30\;{\mu}g/m^3$, followed by xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene and styrene. The highest mean concentration of TSC was $625.3\;CFU/m^3$ at jjimjilbang, followed by childcare facilities, medical service facilities and large commercial building. The highest of asbestos was 0.0072 each/cc at childcare facilities and that of radon was 1.41 pCi/L at art gallery. PM10 showed positive correlations to TSC with $R^2\0.5332$ by lognormal equation at childcare facilities. CO2 showed positive correlations to CO at childcare facilities and indoor parking place. Lognormal equation fitted to the VOCs data more than normal equation in all facilities.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.23 no.1 s.73
• /
• pp.139-149
• /
• 2005

This study is to compare the quality of child care centers in Sweden and Korea and the mothers' satisfaction of each center. In this study, the quality of 27 preschools in Sweden and 24 child care centers was evaluated by external evaluator using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS). A total of 436 Korean mothers and 197 Swedish mothers responded to the questionnaire regarding their satisfaction of their child's attending child care centers. The results show that the quality of Swedish preschool was significantly higher than Korean child care centers. The quality of Swedish preschools tended to be good whereas the quality of Korean child care centers was somewhat minimal. Specifically, the category of 'Furnishings and display for children' was the highest score in Swedish preschool, however, the category of 'Adult needs' was the highest score in Korean child care centers. The mothers' satisfaction of the centers was significantly different between two countries. The Swedish mothers were highly satisfied with the close location of preschool but Korean mothers were highly satisfied with the teachers of child care centers. However, both mothers in two countries were less likely satisfied with the facility equipments. The results were discussed in terms of cultural and child care program differences further.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.97-106
• /
• 2020

This study aimed to evaluate dietary behaviors and food allergy status of preschool children in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan city. The survey included 592 preschool children aged 1-5 years old in 31 childcare facilities. General characteristics, feeding type, complementary feeding, food allergy, dietary behaviors based on the NQ-P questionnaire, and dietary habits of their family were considered. Exclusively breast-fed children was 32.2% of the subjects and the breast feeding duration was 6.5 months. Subjects who had complementary feeding within 6 months was 77.2% and starting time of complementary feeding was 6.1 months. Fifteen percent of the subjects had food allergies and foods that induced allergy were instant foods, eggs, milk and dairy products, nuts, seafood. Food allergy was not related to breast feeding nor complementary feeding. The NQ-P score and its 3 factors including 'balance', 'moderation', and 'environment' were 59.9, 61.1, 56.0, 62.6, respectively. There were positive relations between children's dietary behaviors and family dietary habits such as breakfast eating frequency and meal regularity. As age of children increased, instant food intake increased and breakfast eating frequency decreased. Proper nutrition education is needed to children, their parents, and their care givers at childcare facilities to improve children's dietary behavior and health.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.257-271
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data that is necessary for planning an adequate environment for various child-care activities and programs by recognizing the environmental characteristics of a group room, where children's activities take place. A survey was conducted of 257 childcare centers and 544 teachers all over the country, including only those of which that have opened after year 2000 with more than 20 children capacities. The survey period was from January 18th to 28th of 2010. The data was analyzed using SPSS WIN 15 software, calculating the data's frequency, percentage, $x^2$, multiple response analysis, F-test, and factor analysis. The results of this study led us to the following conclusions. 1) We would like to propose a group room space design varying by the room size, so that interesting and diverse activities can take place after taking account of the child's development and childcare centers program. 2) Group room space and facilities should be made of proper finishing materials, various materials with differing textures, and lighting for the kinds of childcare activities that gives various sensational experiences and comfortable feelings to the children. 3) Teachers with higher age and education tend to believe that child's competence and a homelike atmosphere are important factors in a group room environment.

• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.48-58
• /
• 2020

Surplus resources including workforce and space have occurred by the implementation of electronic government. In order to utilize these resources for welfare, culture, employment, and sports for all, the plan for merging closed dong offices is going on. Meanwhile, the demand for childcare facilities is increasing due to the growing number of working couples and small-scale families, but the government has underwent many budget problems in processes such as new construction and purchase of the land. In response, this study purposes to present measures to simultaneously solve the problems of expanding childcare facilities due to the current increase in demand for them and of closed dong offices due to their reduced role from the implementation of the e-government. As a method of research, a survey was conducted on the current status and actual condition of childcare facilities using closed dong offices, and the spatial compositions of the facilities were compared through J-graph based on spatial syntax. Through this method, the types of space generated by the use of the existing dong offices were derived, and the problems and directions for improvement were described.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.1 s.94
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to survey the distribution patterns of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and formaldehyde in the various indoor environments using cluster analysis. We investigated VOCs and formaldehyde in subway stations, underground shopping areas, medical centers, maternity recuperation centers, public childcare centers, large stores, funeral houses, and indoor parking lots from June,2005 to May,2006. Concentration of TVOCs in maternity recuperations was 2,605.7 ${\mu}g/m^3$ that was higher than the guideline and other facilities. TVOCs in public childcare centers was 1,951.6 ${\mu}g/m^3$ also it exceeded the guideline. Moreover, concentration of TVOCs in every facility exceeded the guideline of Department of Environment, Korea. In case of formaldehyde, mean concentration, 336.5 ${\mu}g/m^3$, in only public childcare centers exceeded the 120 ${\mu}g/m^3$ of the guideline. Finally, by applying cluster analysis, three pattterns of the indoor air pollutions were distinguished. In the results of analysis, concentrations of TVOCs and formaldehyde of cluster 3 were higher than cluster 1 and 2 that were 2,561.4 ${\mu}g/m^3$ and 184.9 ${\mu}g/m^3$, respectively.

• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.49-66
• /
• 2015

This study analyzes the effects of women's labour force participation and work-family reconciliation support on life-cycle fertility in Korea. The analysis is based on the longitudinal data from Korean Labour and Income Panel Study (KLIPS), which include the available information on life-cycle fertility and employment history. Employing a dynamic model of fertility, we estimated the life-cycle fertility of all the 15-49 years old women considered in this study by using a duration model. The major results of this study were as follows: First, women's labour force participation had a negative effect on the first birth, second birth, and all births (transition to births starting at different parities). Women's employment tended to lengthen the interval between births. Second, the availability of maternal leave had a positive effect on the first birth and all births for working women. Providing maternal leave to working women decreased the opportunity cost of childbearing and in turn, reduced the interbirth interval of women. However, the availability of parental leave had no significant effect on the births of working women. Third, the financial support for childcare had a positive effect on the first birth and all births. The economic support for childcare led to the reduction in the interbirth interval of women by increasing the probability of births. The use of a childcare center for the first child, which substitutes for the time that women needed to take care of their children, classified as time-intensive consumption goods, did not have any effect on the second birth. Fourth, the part-time employment of women had a positive effect on the second birth. A flexible working time schedule tended to decrease the interval between the first and the second births.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.52-58
• /
• 2022

Background: Few studies have evaluated the exposure to phthalates via inhalation of floor dust in children's living areas. Objectives: This study evaluated the concentration and exposure level of phthalates emitted from indoor floor dust in children's living areas. Methods: This study utilized the results of a survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment in 2019. Indoor dust was collected from 150 households with children aged 3~7 and 67 daycare centers or local children's centers by using vacuum cleaners. It was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Six types of phthalates were analyzed: Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), Di-N-octyl phthalate (DNOP), Diisononyl phthalate (DINP), Di -isodecyl phthalate (DIDP). Results: The medians of DEHP concentrations were 1,028 and 1,937 mg/kg in homes and daycare centers, respectively. The median and maximum values of daily intake were calculated by applying the median and 95th percentile values (the upper 5% of the total concentration) in dust measured in the homes. The DEHP median value was 1.6 ㎍/kg/bw/day, and a maximum A value of 7.8 ㎍/kg/bw/day was calculated. When the childcare center values were applied, the median daily intake of DEHP was 3.1 ㎍/kg/bw/day and the maximum value was 29.2 ㎍/kg/bw/day. As a result of calculating the daily intake by integrating the values of home and childcare facilities, the median and maximum values of daily intake were 1.9 and 10.9 ㎍/kg/bw/day, respectively. Conclusions: This study derives phthalate concentrations among the floor dust in homes and childcare facilities where children mainly spend time, and suggests their intake of phthalates through this. In particular, it was newly suggested that the phthalate concentrations in homes and childcare facilities are different, resulting in differences in intake.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.15-28
• /
• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of teacher emotional intelligence in the relationship between job environments and teacher efficacy. Methods: Participants of this study were 205 child care teachers from U-city. Correlation analysis between variables was conducted with the collected data, and regression analysis was conducted to verify the mediating effect of emotional intelligence in the relationship between the job environment of daycare centers and teacher efficacy. Results: First, there was a positive correlation between job environments, teacher efficacy, and teacher emotional intelligence. Second, job environments and teacher emotional intelligence had a significant direct effect on teacher efficacy and teacher emotional intelligence also had a significant indirect effect between job environments and teacher efficacy. Conclusion/Implications: The way to improve the quality of child care is to improve the quality of teachers. Among the teacher's competencies, it is very important to increase teacher efficacy. Teacher efficacy plays a very important role in the quality of childcare and the healthy development of toddlers and children. In order to increase teacher efficacy, policy support for the job environment and training support to increase teacher efficacy are considered necessary.