Description:
Using data from the 2006 Aboriginal Children's Survey, this study describes child care for First Nations children living off reserve, Metis children, and Inuit children in Canada, including the cultural aspects in the care environment. As a first step, a sample of First Nations children living off reserve, Metis, and Inuit children aged 2 to 5 years and not attending school who participated in child care were compared to a similar sample of children not in child care. For those children in care, aspects of child care of interest included: type of care, regulatory status, total hours in care, and number of care arrangements (i.e., stability). Next, sociodemographic characteristics such as the age and sex of the child, household income, family structure, parental education, parental work status and place of residence were examined in relation to both patterns of child care use and to child outcomes. Finally, cultural activities and Aboriginal language use in child care were investigated to determine associations with child outcomes. For the current study, the effect of child care on hyperactivity and prosocial behaviour were of particular interest as existing research suggests a relationship between child care and both of these outcomes. (author abstract)
Resource Type:
Reports & Papers
Country:
Canada