Competency for raising early childhood through eat-hold-play-tell and caregiver participation in Na Siew Subdistrict, Mueang Chaiyaphum District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to examine the competency of early childhood rearing by eat-hold-play-tell and the participation of caregivers in Na Siew
sub-district, Mueang district, Chaiyaphum province. The study was conducted in 2 phases. In phase 1, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 caregivers to understand situations regarding their child bearing competencies. The results from the interviews showed 5 issues on competencies among caregivers: 1) providing care in children’s eating, 2) warmth from caregivers, 3) spending quality time playing with children, 4) encouraging children to express themselves and tell their stories, and 5) caregivers’ participations in providing care for their children. In-depth interviews conducted with secondary informant stakeholders regarding the early childhood rearing competency of caregivers showed that three areas important in raising children were knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes towards early childhood education to promote child development according to age. The quantitative study in phase 2 was conducted using competency and participation of caregiver questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.92 and 0.94, respectively. Statistics used in this phase included percentages, means and standard deviations. It was found that the overall level of the caregiver's participation in early childhood rearing was at a high level (=3.79, SD=0.51) while  the aspect of parenting as a caregiver had a highest average score (=4.47, SD=0.43) followed by learning at home (=4.09, SD=0.47).