• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.371-380
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• 2013

Purpose: This study analyzes the optimal operation scheme of childcare centers in Korea to maximize the quality of childcare service by determining the number of children and number of teachers. Methods: This study employs a mathematical programming methodology called 'nonlinear integer programming (NLIP)' to solve the optimization problems and compare the quality of childcare service of optimal solutions with those of present operation scheme. Results: It is very successful in obtaining the optimal solutions for alternative capacities and they guarantee the substantial improvement in the quality of childcare service. Conclusion: Though more variables should be adapted for defining the quality of childcare service robustly, it is possible to conclude that childcare centers should modify their operation scheme to improve the quality of childcare service.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.57-70
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• 2010

This study aimed to investigate the current condition of student childcare training in Korea. Participants were 221 university professors, 467 childcare center directors, and 1,260 guidance teachers in Korea. They completed questionnaires the current condition of student childcare training centers, guidance teachers, student teachers, and student childcare training fees. The results showed 64.4% of these centers charged a student childcare training fee, and 35.6% of them did not charge a fee. The average student childcare training fee was 41,000 won. This study aims to offer a realistic understanding and effective information on student childcare training in Korea and to suggest practical standards for student childcare training.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.185-200
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• 2006

This study intended to provide basic materials for establishing a diversity of plans for assisting childcare centers, by examining differences between self-evaluation and professional evaluation in childcare centers with less than 21 children. Data were collected from 7 childcare centers to measure evaluation in five categories of accreditation. Significant differences were found between self-evaluation and professional evaluation in "child care curriculum" and in "interaction between teachers and children." These results point up the handicap of heavy dependence on self-evaluation as it leads to self-assistance, with limited access to new ideas. On the other hand, "circuit assistance" where a consortium of 2~3 different childcare centers advise and assist each other could effectively stimulate a more professional outlook.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.19-38
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the practical experiences of childcare experts, parents, and daycare center directors who participated in the 'Daycare Centers Monitoring Program' carried out in K city. Methods: Participants were three childcare experts who belong to the monitoring group in K city, three mothers with infants and children, and three daycare center directors who were selected for the 'Daycare Centers Monitoring Program'. Results: As a result of the research, the childcare experts experienced the following; 1) sharing interesting experiences with parents, 2) a perception of the monitoring program for taking advantage of mutual strengths, 3) the opportunity of maintaining a sense of presence in early childhood education institutions, et al. The mothers' experiences were shown to include, 1) resolving small questions about the operation and management of a daycare center, 2) feelings of relief through observing the life style of infants and children, 3) the joy and reward of being a member of the monitoring group, et al. The directors' experiences were indicated to include 1) a psychological discomfort recognized as a target of the daycare monitoring and as 'another evaluation', 2) the confusion caused by different reviews, 3) an ambiguity on the unfamiliar indexes and contents electronically documented, et al. Conclusion/Implications: Based on these results, there was a discussion about actual suggestions and educational implications on the daycare monitoring program in order to improve the quality of daycare services in childcare centers.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.111-118
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• 2010

This study investigated working mothers' attitudes toward maternal employment and beliefs regarding childcare quality according to the childcare centers' operating modalities and hours. Participants were 261 mothers sending their children to full day, nighttime, or 24-hour childcare centers. We conducted the data analysis two-way ANOVA using SPSS. The results revealed significant differences among the groups in these working mothers' attitudes toward maternal employment and their beliefs regarding childcare quality and childcare centers' operating modalities and hours.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.27-37
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• 2017

Enrollment rate of childcare centers is an important indicator that regulates supply and demand of childcare services in South Korea, but monthly enrollment rate difference of childcare centers has not been studied. This study examines monthly enrollment rate difference from March 2015 to February 2016. Data for this study is drawn from the Korean Childcare Centers database and includes information about 39,775 childcare centers. Enrollment rate had increased steadily from 71.8% in March 2015 to 84.4% in January 2016, whereas it decreased by 50.3% in February 2016. The result showed that enrollment rate difference between March 2015 and January 2016 is about 13%p, and even those of between January and February 2016 is 32%p. Taken together, these findings suggest that the supply and demand of childcare services need to be regulated based on monthly enrollment information.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.21-41
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• 2017

Objective: This study purposed to provide implications in regards to the Moon Jae-in Administration that launched in May 2017. Three sectors of childcare polices on administration of childcare centers were reviewed in terms of supporting the healthy development of young children. Methods: Medium and long-term childcare plans and the main policies of previous administrations since 2004 when the Childcare Act was completely reformed, as well as the 'Five-year policy for the Moon Jae-in administration of state affairs' that was announced on July, 2017, were reviewed in terms of publicness of childcare, regulations on operation of childcare services, and customized childcare programs for diverse needs. Results: It was proposed that the concept of publicness of childcare should be conservative when focusing on public childcare centers. The regulations on operating childcare services should focus on improving structural dimensions of childcare quality to keep the well-being of children a top priority. Furthermore, diverse programs should be designed and implemented to satisfy changes in childcare surroundings and the various needs of children and their families. Conclusion/Implications: The Moon Jae-in administration is expected to outline childcare policies and carry out tasks under the new paradigm. The healthy development of young children should be embodied as the final goal that forms the vision of childcare policies based on publicness, rationality, and diversity.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.5-20
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• 2006

This study was a preliminary investigation into improving the environmental and healthy quality of childcare centers. The purpose of this study was to determine the management condition on indoor environment and hygiene of childcare centers in Cheongju. Questionnaire survey was carried out from 11st to 26th of August 2004 by mail. Respondents were consisting of 55 teachers, an executive of each childcare center in Cheongju. From the survey results, there were some problems in 'empty period after remodeling work for preventing sick house syndrome', 'humidity controling', 'glare controling', 'indoor or outdoor noise controling', 'cleaning frequency of each room', 'washing method of toys', 'laundry frequency of rag doll and bedclothes'. So, we need to establish the regulations or give some educations and informations about indoor environment and hygiene to administrators of childcare centers.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.377-391
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• 2022

The objective of this study is to understand the operational status of the support projects for childcare in daycare centers operated by the Support Centers for Childcare(SCC) during the COVID-19 pandemic and find ways to improve and develop the project operation. To this end, data were collected and analyzed through in-depth interviews from the 1st week to the 4th week of February 2022 with six childcare agents in charge of the support projects for childcare in daycare centers in the SCC located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. As a result of the study, it was found that the demand for diversification of project operation methods, expansion of non-face-to-face education, individual consulting, and small-scale education increased while operating the support projects for childcare in daycare centers in the SCC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Operational difficulties were found to be a lack of ability to use media, the burden of coping with unpredictable situations, and insufficient communication between daycare centers and childcare policy institutions. As for the support needs, it was found that it is necessary to employ computer specialists, establish an environment for activating online education, and provide an efficient work delivery system in emergencies.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.75-93
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• 2013

The present study was to investigate if quality of childcare curriculum implementation could be predicted by educational climate, teachers' professionalism, and teacher/classroom characteristics. According to the results, strong positive associations existed between eudcational climate, professionalism, and implementation of childcare curriculum. The most powerful predictor of curriculum implementation quality was 'respect and acceptance' which was a sub-factor of educational climate. Also, 'public service', a sub-factor of professionalism, explained a significant amount of variances in quality of curriculum implementation. Among teacher/childcare characteristics, the type of centers was one of the strong predictors. These study results provide meaningful implications regarding the importance of socio-cultural contexts in childcare centers as well as teachers'professionalism.