LEAD AND MANAGE A COMMUNITY BASED EARLY YEARS

Lead and manage a community based early years

Lead and manage a community based early years

Introduction

The physical environment is a critical part of any child care program and has an important role in children's behavior and development. The many children cared for outside the home will spend most of their waking hours in such a setting. It is therefore critical that such places support all the developing child's needs. Child care takes place in a variety of physical settings, but only community-based child care will be addressed here. Community-based child care programs vary in the number and ages of children served and child development philosophy. Unlike preschool programs, community based child care programs may provide services for children as young as 6-8 weeks up to 5 years of age. Child care is often available to parents as early as 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. Some communities also have programs for evening and weekend use. Very young children can spend 10 hours a day or more, 5 days a week in a community based child care setting. Thus, some young children may spend more time in community day care than older children spend in school. Child care programs must meet the entire spectrum of children's developmental needs, including cognitive and intellectual development, physical development, and socio-emotional development. Children developing at different rates and those with special requirements must also have their needs met. Consequently, child care programs are not just educational programs. They are a “home away from home.” This has major space design implications.

According to 2009 data, approximately 16.6 million children aged 0 to 17 years have lost one or both of their parents due to HIV (Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS 2009), and millions more are vulnerable to the physical, psychological, and economic effects of HIV within their households and communities (Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS 2009). The HIV epidemic extends far beyond the health sector and those who are sick. Many youth, particularly girls, are forced to drop out of school and assume caregiver status for ailing parents and younger siblings (Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator [OGAC] 2009). Especially at risk are young children age 0 to primary school-aged who are not receiving services (including HIV care and treatment), are too young to attend primary school, or are left unattended at home as overburdened caregivers are forced to choose between work and childcare (CARE n.d.).

The Negative Effects of Homelessness on Child Development

Frequent moves are typical for families experiencing homelessness, as they attempt to secure affordable housing and/or employment. Having two or more changes in residence, parent's employment or schools in the previous twelve months indicates the presence of turbulence. Research indicates that children who experience a high degree of turbulence are more likely to have high levels of emotional and behavioral problems. In some cases, family homelessness may result in children's separation from their parents—either because children are formally placed in foster ...