PROS Ajeng Ayu Widiastuti The Gaps Between fulltext

Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
Issues and Challenges
The Gaps Between Needs and Availabity of Childcare Quality
Ajeng Ayu Widiastuti
Early Childhood Education Program
Faculty of Education and Teacher Training
Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga, Center Java, Indonesia
[email protected] ; [email protected]

Abstract
Nowadays, childcare program is growing rapidly. It is triggered by the
need for parents to leave their children while they work, especially the working
mother. Data showed that in Salatiga, as a small town, has grown 20 childcare
centers, which has had an operational permit. However, the author with some
early childhood educators fined some childcare centers do not have the standards
of education and care. Whereas, childcare is a program designed for the children
care, development, education and social welfare of 0-6 years. Therefore, to
address the gap between the needs of parents and the availability of childcare
quality, expected that the role of government and related institutions to oversee
the development of childcare. In addition, to overcome the shortage of qualified
caregiver, the government can help them by providing additional personnel who

have passed the selection and placed in a childcare centers.
Keywords: childcare, working mother, children development, childcare quality,
caregiver

Childcare

INTRODUCTION
Childcare program is not a
new thing in education and child
development area. However, this
study becomes an important concern
for

governments,

practitioners

and

educators,

observers

of

children and especially for parents .

program

of

is
early

a

service
childhood

education that focuses on non-formal
care . Childcare has the purpose to

provide services to children aged 0-6
years whose parents must work and
fulfill the child rights to grow and
develop, protect and give affection
and right to participate in a social

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Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
Issues and Challenges
environment
2011).

(ECD

In

Directorate,


addition,

Scarr

&

not have close family or caregiver at
home.

Eisenberg (1993) state there are three

In recent years, the childcare is

important purposes of childcare:

not only develop in big cities, but

substitute care for children during

also it developes in a small town, like


their parents work , educational

Salatiga, Central Java. Based on the

programs

data obtained from the Salatiga

emotional

to

develop

and

children's

cognitive,


and

Association

of

Early

Childhood

interventions to help children from

Educators, there are 20 childcare

poor families.

which has been established and have

In the 18th century, the

presence
developed

of
in

childcare
the

program

Western

operating
preliminary

licenses.
study,

Based

the

on

childcare

and

develop by a request from the

proliferated up to Indonesia in the

parents, especially from working

mid-19th century . This creates a

mothers, who do not have a caregiver

shift Indonesian culture on parenting,


at home. Parents argue that it is

where they leaved the children to

better to entrust the child to a

their family. Previously, parents were

childcare instead of having to look

more likely to leave their children in

for a nanny because of the amount of

the family or grandparents during

money issued to pay nanny much

their work. Susilo (2005) states that


larger

the childcare is actually less in

Moreover, they argue that the child

appropriate with Indonesian culture

will be more independent and have

where parents will feel safe if their

more friends than taken care of by a

child was handed over to a family

nanny at home.

than


pay

the

childcare.

member or caregiver or baby sitter at
home. However, based on author

" It is better, if I leave my child

interviews with some parents and

in the childcare. Because I have

observations, in recent years, parents

to work until the afternoon. I

prefer to leave their children in a

have not relatives here, then i

childcare on the grounds that they do

cannot pay the nanny, 400

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Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
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thousand a month " (interview

hours per week in a childcare in its

with the mother X , dated May

first

29, 2014).

attachment

to

" I leave my child at school,

increase

the

which

my

disobedience, and have a tendency to

workplace. I led my child more

withdraw from social environment at

independent. Because, there a

preschool or in elementary school.

lot of

However, this does not occur in

is

near

from

friends, and become a

year, experiencing insecure

who

the

mother,

and

aggressiveness,

brave boy. Then, at he afternoon

children

deposited

in

the

I take his go home " ( interview

childcare at the age of 1 year and

with mother Y , dated May 1,

above. Moreover, Kagan ( in Rini,

2014) .

2002) found that children who
deposited at the childcare has a

According to Conley (2010),

capacity of intellectual, social and

childcare is not the only daycare.

emotional

Childcare has a function as a place

different from a child who was raised

of care and education for young

by a parent or caregiver at home.

children. Childcare as well as a

Although the childcare has a ratio of

program for giving a stimulus to the

1 caregiver to handle 3 or 4 children.

children development, both in terms

In addition, several cases

of motor, cognitive, emotional, social

concerning childcare program found.

and moral through play. However,

Liputan 6 reprted that there is a child

the question is, whether the childcare

who died trapped in a wooden play

has perform its function as a place of

house in the childcare in Singapore

care and provision the stimulus for

because of the caregiver negligent

children.

and she has talking on the phone

The existence of the childcare

with

her

which

friend.

is

not

In

much

addition,

is still become a seirus studies

Kompasiana reported on chlid abuse

nowadays

research

committed by a caregiver at the

conducted by Belsky 1986 found that

childcare in America toward baby,

babies who spend an average of 20

where she rocked the baby’s body,so

.

Based

on

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Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
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that baby suffered permanent brain

However, Ellen Smith, every

injury. For Barbara Jones, childcare

weekday at 8 am, was dropping

is a bad experience, because she felt

Tanya, her daughter, 1 year old, to

her daughter treated badly in the

childcare centers because she had to

childcare, so she decided to stop

leave Tanya to work , and at 3 pm

working and focus on caring for her

she will be picked up after work.

daughter (Santrock , 2006).

This

Based on interviews conducted by

preschool. Ellen felt good benefits of

the author, a mom feklt sorry to leave

childcare which has helped her to

her child in the daycare, because the

nurture Tanya, because her daugther

child became sick often.

dared and interact with peers and

lasted

until

Tanya

enters

adults she met. (Santrock, 2006).
" I would not leave my child

Therefore, this preliminary study is

again in the childcare, because

talk about the need of parents in the

he

vurnerable”

search for caregivers as long as they

(interview with the mother Z ,

work and the quality of childcare

May 3, 2014).

wich appropirate with the guidelines

became

ill

that has been formulated by the
Based on the findings in the

government .

field, some childcare in Salatiga not
meet the standard criteria set by the
government. Average of 1 caregiver
to handle more than 6 children. So
that

supervision

lacking.

It

has

of

children

is

an

impact

on

parenting and learning undertaken by
caregivers.

For

example,

the

caregiver provides a TV and let the
kids watch TV more than 1 hour in
order to make the child be quiet.

CHILDCARE
Child care is a transformation
in the world of early childhood
education.

Child

care

is

the

supervision of children while their
parents work or are engaged in other
activities. Day care is another term
used to refer to familiar childcare.
Childcare is designed to make the
children

are

able

to

explore

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Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
Issues and Challenges
themselves and socialize with peers.

put a large group of children in a

Scarr & Eisenberg (1993) stated,

home with adequate facilities. There

childcare has traditionally served

is

three important purposes: substitute

commercially, but some are not set

care for children while thier parents

profit and usually managed by

work; educational opportunities to

church,

promote cognitive and emotional

businesses, or even managed by

deelopment;

mothers who want to have extra

and

interventions

intended to help poor children and

also

offering

community

services

groups,

income.

disadvanteaged.

Because of the diversity of

At first, childcare is the care

parenting childcare, it causes the

center designed for children under 3

different quality and quantity of

years of age, but often parents who

childcare. In quality, most caregivers

leave their children until the age of 6

do

years. But Kagan (in Susilo, 2005)

parenting, and the other have good

states that generally children aged 4

parenting because they have received

months

intensive

to

29

months

can

be

not

have

special

training.

In

skills

terms

in

of

deposited into childcare, because at

quantity, there are several childcare

the age of 2.5 years to 3 years old

that provides services starting at 8

generally has entered the preschool.

am until 5 pm, but some are from 8

However, in Salatiga, the average

am to 3 pm each day. In addition,

children who

the

caregivers do not just care for one

preschool program, they also attend

child, usually the caregivers are

the childcare in the same place.

given the responsibility to care for

Because that agency has preschool

and provide care to 3 or 4 children. If

and childcare program in the same

children are entrusted sizeable and

service.

caregivers bit, it is likely more

have

entered

Patterns of care provided in

responsible caretakers of 4 children .

childcare in children is very diverse.

All depends on the facilities and

According to Santrock (2006), there

programs offered by day care itself.

are several childcare who choose to
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Based on that statement, it

3. Presidential Regulation no. 24 in

can be concluded that childcare care

2010 about the status, duties and

is a parenting center that offers

functions

facilities and specific programs for

amended by Presidential Decree

children under 6 years, so that

no.67 in 2010.

of

echelon1,

as

children are able to develop their

4. Regulation of the Minister of

potential, explore and socialize with

National Education no.36 in 2010

their peers under the care of a

about

substitute caregiver (non maternal

Administration of the Ministry of

care).

National Education; and no.58 in
2009

GOVERNMENT STANDARD ON

the

on

Organization

Early

and

Childhood

Education Standards.

CHILDCARE ESTABLISHMENT
Purposes

Legal Basis

1. Provide services to children aged

1. The Law no.20 in 2003 about
National

Education

no.23

2002

in

for work or other obstacles.

Child

2. Provide services related to the

Protection; no.4 in 1979 about

fulfillment of children's rights to

Child Welfare; and no.17 in 2007

grow and develop, protection and

about

affection, as well as the right to

National

about

System;

0-6 years who leaved by parents

Long

Term

Development Plan for Years

participate

2004-2025.

environment.

in

a

social

2. Regulation Government no.19 in
2005 about National Education

Principles

Standards; no.17 in 2010 about

Education in Childcare

the Management and Operation

Early childhood education programs

of Education, as amended by

are implemented in a childcare based

Government Regulation no.66 in

on the following principles:

2010.

1. Oriented to the needs of children

and

Philosophy

of

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Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
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2. According

to

the

child's

14. Holistic
that

development.
3. According to the uniqueness of

education

covers

all

stimulation
aspects

of

development.

each individual.
4. Children

learn

through

play

Caregivers
1. High

activities.
5. Children learn from the concrete

school

graduate

or

equivalent

to the abstract thing, from the

2. Understand the basic parenting

simple to complex thing, from

3. Skilled implement parenting

the verbal to the movement thing,

4. Being

and from the self to the social

and

behave

in

the

psychological needs of children
5. Assist the teacher and teacher

one.

assistant as needed

6. Children as active learners.
7. Children learn through social

6. Hygiene and taking care of the
cleanliness of the facilities used

interaction
8. Provide an environment that

child

supports the learning process.
9. Stimulate

the

emergence

of

creativity and innovative.
10. Developing children life skills.
11. Uses a variety of sources and
media to learn which available in
the neighborhood.
12. Children learn appropriate with
the socio-cultural conditions.
13. Involves

the participation of

parents in collaboration with
educators in early childhood
institutions.

Caregivers’ ratio with children
1. Age group of 0 - < 1 year (1
caregiver : 4 children)
2. Age groupof 1 - < 2 years (1
caregiver : 6 children)
3. Age groupof 2 - < 3 years (1
caregiver : 8 children)
4. Age group of 3 - < 4 years (1
caregiver : 10 children)
5. Age group of 4 - < 5 years (1
caregiver : 12 children)
6. Age group of 5 - 6 years ≤ (1
tcaregiver : 15 children)

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In addition, The National

Relationships with family andstaff

Children

1. Programs should pay attention to

Education (1986) has recommended

and support the needs of families.

a reference quality of childcare to

Parents are welcome remedy to

pay

observe, discuss policies, make a

Association

for

attention

to

the

the

following

suggestion.

matters:

2. Staff should share information
about opportunities for recreation

Caregivers
1. Enjoy and

control

of

and

child

development

learning

in

the

family

environment.

2. Old enough to work in one group
in the care of children's needs

Facilities and programs

3. The caregiver should not be more

1. The health of children, staff and
parents should be protected and

than 4 children

enhanced. Staff should be alert to

4. Caregivers should observe and

the health of every child

record all the progress and

2. Facilities

development of children

must

be

safe

for

must

be

children and adults
Activities and equipment program

3. The

environment

sufficient

1. The environment must facilitate

to

the growth and development of

variety

of

children so that they can play and

equipment .

accommodate a
activities

and

work together.
2. Childcare

provides

safe

and

adequate equipment so it is

DISCUSSION

always ready for use.

Childcare service program is

3. Children should be helped to
improve

language

skills

and

broaden their understanding of
the outside world around it.

the focus of the study which debated
by

education

practitioners,

psychologists and early childhood
teachers who have full concentration

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Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
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Belsky's

on the development of children. For

research

was

example Jay Belsky, she conducted

supported by Vandell & Corasaniti

research on childcare since the 1980s

(in

. Belsky et al studied the impact of

childcare in the first year of life is

chidcare

child

associated to the development of

development and attachment to the

long-term negative. Children who

parent .

started childcare early with 30 hours

program

in

Santrock,

2006).

Extensive

In essence, childcare is a

per week turned out to be found less

program or agency offered to help

obedient to parents and teachers, and

the parents in caring for their

have poor relationships with their

children during their work or being

peers. In the academic value ever

in the bustle that can not care for a

they got a low value and have poor

child for a while. But a few of the

work habits.

researchers found that adverse effects

In 2003, Belsky also doing

caused by the childcare. Belksy (in

research back on childcare and the

Santrock , 2006) stated that she is not

resulting impact on the development

only assured of the quality childcare

of over 1300 children with 10

is bad, but she is also convinced that

different locations in the United

the childcare can produce negative

State. Belsky conducting research in

development for children. In 2009

children aged 6, 15, 24, 36, and 54

Belksy doing research again and

months with the assessment of

concluded

cognitive

that

the

extensive

socioemotional

experience of childcare during the

development until they go to school

first 12 months of life will be much

early. This study is intended to

associated with insecure attachment

answer the debate still exists as to

and

aggression,

whether or not the chilcare and to

disobedience , and the possibility of

decipher the actual condition of the

social withdrawal during the years

childcare is capable of supporting or

preschool

even damage a child's development .

school.

increased

and

early

elementary

Some study found some results, such
as:
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Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
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1. At the age of 15 months children

4. However

,

children

with

showed unsecure attachment due

childcare experience with high

to

quality

their

mothers

because

of

care

that

would

experience > 10 hours per week

indicate a high level also in

in childcare in the first year of

cognitive function - linguistics at

life, or because of the low quality

the age of 1, 3, 4 and 5 years.

of care. When the viscosity

On the other hand, Andersson et al

measured at month 36, the results

(in Santrock, 2006) proved to have a

obtained are the same.

different conclusion. They conduct

2. Interactions between mothers and

research on childcare but did not find

children aged 6-36 months look

any adverse effects of day care.

less harmonious, because the

Determining factor of a child's

children do not care for the

development is not only from day

mother.

care, but also from the parental care,

As noted back in

children aged 54 months, then the

particularly the

impact of disharmony seen until

primary caregiver) as well. Mother

the child is in first grade.

who has responsive attitude to

3. Children will demonstrate an
external

problem

when

they

spend time in childcare since the
first 2 years to 4.5 years. They
showed

indifference

mother (as the

children forming good viscosity,
compared

to

mothers

who

emotionally and less responsive.
Based

on

interviews

and

conducted by the author with the

behavioral problems since the

chairman of the Association of

age of 24 months, 54 months, in

EarlyChildhood Educators said that

kindergarten and first grade. This

the childcare program or institutions

impact is not so obvious, but

that have been developed in Salatiga

when the children are in class 3

already have operating licenses and

(about 8 years) will experience

the establishment of appropriate

social problems and poor study

standards and regulations. But after

habits competent, so they get a

getting the licenses, there are some

low score at school.

institutions that do not implement the

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Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
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criteria

of

It

can

be

deduced

that

childcare

standard

programs.For

example,

childcare is one of the emerging

there are only 2 caregivers with 14

service programs to assist parents in

children. The implementation of

caring for their children during work

learning program just giving toys to

or activity so that the child must

children that they are quiet and do

leave temporarily. Childcare program

not interfere with each other between

must appropriate with the standard

friends.

criteria

parenting

In

addition,

there

are

for

the

establishment

childcare which not meet health

childcare

standards because the environment is

government. It will help parents and

very dirty and not fit for children,

children

although the state-owned childcare.

development.

At first, the childcare can meet the
applicable standards, but when doing
so, they ignore the standards. For
example, when going to get or
extend the operating licenses, they
clean up the place, but once it is back
to being a dirty environment.
Despitethe

establishment

ofchildcarebased
onmanyrequestsfrom

parents,

childcaremuststillhave
theappropriateoperationalstandards.
Remember

that

childcareis

aplaceforchildrento growanddevelop
in accordancewithhis age.

specified

in

by

the

growth

the

and

Placing he children in the
childcare

outside

the

primary

caregiver in the long term will have a
higher risk of child development,
especially

on

the

relationship

between mother and child behavior
problems (in the first year of school),
social

competence

and

learning

habits. However, these impacts are
not only generated by the low-quality
care, but due to family care factors
also affect.
Childcare center should have
applicable

standards

such

as

childcare establishment consisting of
a pediatrician or doctor, a director as

CONCLUSION

the manager, and the ratio of children
– caregiver 3 to 1, with no forgetting
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Early Childhood Education for Future Asia:
Issues and Challenges
assistant caregiver. Caregivers must

Security. Institute for the Study

be certified, trained to smile, talk to

of

the children, and can give children a

Social

safe and comfortable environment

University of London. U K.

with educational toys that stimulate a
child's development.

Conley,

Families

Issues.

Birkbeck

(2010).
or

and

Childcare:
investment?

International Journal of Social

the government

Welfare 19: 173-181.

and related institution can conduct
surveys on a regular basis in the

A.

welfare

To prevent deviation from the
standard of care,

Children,

Early

Childhood

Education

an

Directorate (2011). Technical

extension of time will be operational

Guidance for Maintenance of

childcare place the child. Also, to

Childcare Center.

short

term,

in

addition

to

provide the lack of caregiver quality
and quantity, the government can
help them by adding the additional
caregiver

who

has

passed

the

selection.

Kompasiana (2014). Kasus shaken
baby syndrome. Available from
http://kesehatan.kompasiana.co
m/medis/2011/03/02/kasusshaken-baby-syndrome344474.html (aceessed on 6

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