Temperamental Differences and Preschool Adjustment to Day Care

Abstract

Adjustment of preschool children to group day care was studied in relation to their temperament characteristics. Temperament measurement, by means of the Toddler Temperament scale by Fullard, McDevitt, and carey, was completed at the beginning of group care on a sample of 18 children ages 23-42 months. Adjustment-to day care was measured at the.beginning of group care, at one week, and at four weeks after enrollment using the Preschool Behavior Questionnaiie by Behar and Stringfield. Three hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis suggesting a positive correlation between children's average temperament scores and their negative behavior ratings was rejected after statistical testing by Pearson's Product Moment Correlation. Hypothesis II predicted a significant decline in negative behavior ratings from the first to the fourth week of day care enrollment. This second hypothesis was rejected after-results from paired t-tests failed to reach significance. Hypothesis III stated that there would be a positive-relationship between parents' and caregivers' ratings of ~hildren~ negative behaviors. Ratings from the first and fourth week were compared using the Pearson's Product Moment Correlation resulting in correlations of .61 and·.39, respedtiVely. These correlations were statistically signi~icant and the third hypothesis was accepted. These findings do suggest that parents and caregivers have similar perceptions in identifying certain negative behaviors for preschool children. As providers of anticipatory guidance, nurses must be well versed in the aspects of quality day care and be able to impart this imformation to families based