Increasing focus on the quality of childcare and Pre-K is calling attention to the circumstances of childcare and impact on the child's social and emotional health, specifically in terms of attachment. The early childhood profession recognizes that consistency in caregiving is essential for the child's attachment. Looping, the practice of keeping…

Self-determination theorists argue that parents can support or thwart their children's psychological needs for relatedness, autonomy, and competence. The first aim of this study was to develop a measure to assess six dimensions of parenting theoretically linked to meeting toddlers' needs. The second aim was to examine the associations of these…

Children's early years are critical for development and many children access out-of-home care during this time. Services offering high-quality childcare afford an opportunity to impact positively on children's development, including acquisition of communication skills. A strong, responsive relationship between child and carer is important in…