Browsing by Author "Burchinal, Margaret R."
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- Predictors of parent-teacher communication during infant transition to childcare in PortugalPublication . Coelho, Vera; Barros, Sílvia; Burchinal, Margaret R.; Cadima, Joana; Pessanha, Manuela; Pinto, Ana Isabel; Peixoto, Carla; Bryant, Donna M.Although literature reports associations between parent-teacher communication and childcare quality, little is known about how such communications are related to family, child and childcare characteristics. This study examines whether child, family and childcare experience characteristics predict the level of parent-teacher communication, and differences between parents’ and teachers’ reports of communication. Participants were mothers of 90 infants and their teachers in childcare in Portugal. Results show that both parents and teachers report higher levels of communication in higher-quality programmes. Teachers reported more frequent communication than parents. Teachers, but not parents, reported more frequent communication when children spent fewer hours in childcare. Discussion highlights the relevance of monitoring the quality of childcare contexts, especially in early ages, and to increase parent-teacher communication when children spend more time in childcare. The importance of promoting high-quality childcare and accounting for variables at the mesosystemic level of development in teacher training are also discussed.
- Quality of infant child care and early infant development in Portuguese childcare centersPublication . Pinto, Ana Isabel; Cadima, Joana; Coelho, Vera; Bryant, Donna M.; Peixoto, Carla; Pessanha, Manuela; Burchinal, Margaret R.; Barros, SílviaIn this study, we examine associations between the quality of teacher-child interactions and infant outcomes during their first months in Portuguese childcare centers. Participants were 90 infants, their mothers and their teachers. A set of multiple regression models were conducted to determine whether classroom quality related to active engagement and non-engagement and to adaptive behavior six months later, controlling for important covariates, namely developmental age, child temperament, mothers’ education, and home quality. Results showed that, in higher quality classrooms, infants spent more time actively engaged, less time non-engaged and six months later were rated as having higher levels of adaptive behaviors. Findings provide further evidence for the need to better support teachers in fostering infant active engagement and unfolding capacities as part of high-quality daily experiences in childcare.