Abstract:
In Bangladesh, the number of working parents is now higher than ever. In the current scenario, parents increasingly engage in different workplaces due to economic challenges, with a notable rise in mothers' participation. Additionally, there is a growing preference among parents for nuclear families in urban areas. This situation has diminished interaction and adequate quality time among children, parents, and other family members, particularly elders. Studies have shown that the absence of parents, especially the mother, can negatively affect children's social and emotional development. Consequently, parents are increasingly relying on child-care centres to take care of their children during their absence, particularly in cities. This situation has increased the importance of the childcare centre’s quality. Prior studies show the importance of the quality of child care centres on children’s development.
This study investigates the relationship between childcare centres' physical environment and the competency development of preschool-aged children in Bangladesh. Given the scarcity of research on this subject in Bangladesh, this study addresses the gap by introducing a rating scale tailored to the local context to evaluate the physical environment of childcare centres in Bangladesh.
This study employs a two-phase methodology. Initially, the physical environment of 12 childcare centres was evaluated using Lorraine E. Maxwell's rating scale. This scale assesses various physical aspects such as control, privacy, complexity, exploration, restoration, personalization, and legibility. In the second phase, the competency development of 28 children from three selected childcare centres was measured. These centres were identified as Centre D04, which achieved the highest score of 59 points, L08 securing a middle score of 41 points, and T02 obtaining the lowest score with a total of 12 points. The competency developments were evaluated using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children. The evaluation of the entire childcare centres took place between August 1st and August 22nd.
The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between the physical environment of childcare centres and children's competency. Statistical analyses, including one-to-one correlation between the physical environment of the centres & Total children’s Competency are 0.765. , T test results of three centres’ are 0.005, 0.001 and 0.004, consistently demonstrating a significant relationship across all sections analysed.
The study revealed that, overall the performance of the childcare centres assessed is poor, with an average score of 42 out of 72. Many of these centres lack personalization and private areas, while also experiencing space shortages. However, these challenges could be addressed through effective Space Orientation and Functional Arrangement strategies. Insufficient equipment in the spaces negatively impacts children's development, highlighting the importance of having appropriate resources. Additionally, the Children-to-Space Ratio holds significance in ensuring optimal childcare environments. The findings of this study underscore the importance of the physical environment in shaping children's competence within childcare settings.