CHILDRENS EXPERIENCES IN FAMILY CHILD-CARE AND RELATIVE CARE AS A FUNCTION OF FAMILY INCOME AND ETHNICITY

To examine children's experiences in family child care and relative ca re as a function of family income and ethnicity, a sample was drawn of 186 African American, European American, and Latino children and thei r child-care providers. Provider behavior, children's activities, and characteristics of the child-care environment were compared. Results r evealed that providers for moderate-income children were rated as more sensitive than providers for very-low-income children. Latino childre n were more uninvolved with activities and watched more television tha n did European American children. The majority of all children were ca red for by a provider of the same ethnic group. Results revealed how c hildren of differing income and ethnic backgrounds occupy differing ch ild-care niches.