BRIEF REPORT - SAFE AT HOME BASE - WORKING PARENTS REASONS FOR CHOICEOF HOME-BASED CHILD-CARE

The current generation of working parents faces new challenges to the traditional family model. Despite this, they select forms of home-base d child care more than any other type of care. Prior data also reveal that parents who use home-based care, center-based care, and family da y care all cite ''quality'' as the primary reason for their choice. Gi ven the similarity of reason and the difference in care actually used, working parents who use home-based care were interviewed on additiona l reasons for their choice. These parents lacked confidence in center- based care and preferred their children to receive one-to-one attentio n. Age of child, cost of care, and availability of centers did not aff ect choice. These adults seem to be selecting home-based care in an at tempt to provide care as close as possible to parental care. They are making a statement on the importance of the home environment even as t heir participation in the workplace increases.