• Human Ecology Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.233-245
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to identify community-level childcare infrastructure for infants and toddlers and to use the data to categorize community types using K-Means cluster analysis with spatial constraints. Seven indicators of childcare resource supply were used for the purpose of categorization and the results revealed six types of community cluster. Communities in the Type 1 cluster provided sufficient parks, libraries, and kindergartens, but lacked pediatric facilities and private education institutions. This cluster comprised small cities and rural areas in Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Jeollabuk-do. The Type 2 cluster had numerous pediatric facilities and childcare centers, but lacked other childcare infrastructure. This comprised small and medium-sized cities in Gyeonggi-do, some areas in Chungcheongnam-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Gangwon-do bordering Gyeonggi-do. The Type 3 cluster comprised Busan, Daegu, and Gyeongsangnam-do, but had insufficient childcare infrastructure as a whole. Type 4 had the largest number of childcare centers, libraries, and private education institutions and comprised Jeollabuk-do, areas near Gwangju, and Jeju-do. Type 5, consisting of Seoul, Incheon and the southern part of Gyeonggi-do had many pediatric facilities and certified childcare centers, but lacked other childcare infrastructure. Type 6, being the rural areas and islands in Jeollanam-do, had sufficient kindergartens, but other infrastructure was insufficient. These results are expected to provide local government with policy implications in terms of relieving the childcare burden on residents with infants and toddlers.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.209-228
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to analyze the recognition of the substitute teacher system between public funds support and local province funds support and to search for a policy guideline. The participants were 49 substitute teachers supported by public funds and 53 substitute teachers supported by local province funds. Results were as follows: Firstly, substitute teachers supported by public funds participated through an internet site but substitute teachers supported by local province funds participated through printed materials from the Childcare Information Center and ambient solicitors. The participating motive for substitute teachers were to work together in different roles. Secondly, Substitute teachers thought the most important characteristics of substitute teachers was the flexibility to cope with various situations in childcare centers. Finally, substitute teachers by public funds support were satisfied with no overtime work but substitute teachers by local province funds were satisfied with experiences in various childcare centers.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.91-103
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to pave the way for the development of oral health promotion programs for children from the low-income class. The subjects in this study were 322 children from the city of Incheon. Some of them visited local childcare centers, and the others attended six different adjacent elementary schools. Their awareness of oral health, oral health behavior and preventive-treatment experience were investigated in May 2005, and whether there were any characteristics in their visit of dental institutions was checked. Besides, whether their parents advised them to brush their teeth before turning in was examined. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. 22.0 percent of the children investigated were visiting local childcare centers, and 78.0 percent weren't. The guardians of the former group largely received high-school(50.7%) and middle-school or lower education(22.5%), and those of the latter group mostly received high-school(41.0%) and college- or higher education(35.5%)(pE0.001). The common monthly mean house-hold income of the former was one million won or less(54.9%) or ranged from 1.01 to 2.00 million won(19.7%), and the most prevalent monthly mean household income of the latter was between 2.01 and 3.50 million won(28.7%). The second most dominant monthly mean household income of the latter ranged from 1.01 to 2.00 million won(28.3%), and the third most common one was 3.50 million won or more(12.0%)(pE0.001). 2. The most prevalent daily toothbrushing frequency among the local childcare center visitors was twice(39.4%), followed by three times(19.7%). The third largest group of the visitors brushed their teeth after each meal(19.7%). The most dominant daily toothbrushing frequency among the non-users of local child care centers was twice(54.2%), followed by three times(29.1%)(pE0.01). As to the way of toothbrushing, 58.2 percent of the visitors and 74.9 percent of the non-visitors brushed their teeth by turning their toothbrush or up and down(pF0.05). 62.0 percent of the former and 74.9 percent of the latter always brushed their teeth before turning in, and whether they visited local childcare centers made a significant difference to that(pE0.05). 3. 69.7 percent of the non-visitors were always advised by their parents to do toothbrushing before turning in, and the visitors who were given the same advice all the time numbered 29.6 percent(pE0.001). 4. 56.4 percent of the visitors and 72.1 percent of the non-visitors had ever visited dental institutions over the past year. Dental hospitals and clinics were identified as the dental institutions that they visited the most, and they mostly received dental-caries treatment or had a tooth out there. 49.3 percent of the visitors and 35.1 percent of the non-visitors had ever had a toothache. 5. Sealant was experienced by 42.3 percent of the visitors and 46.2 percent of the non-visitors to prevent dental caries(pF0.05). 33.8 percent of the visitors underwent fluoride application, and that rate was higher than that of the non-visitors with the same experience that stood at 22.7 percent(pE0.05). The visitors mainly acquired knowledge on oral health through other channels that weren't specified in the questionnaire(28.2%), and the non-visitors did it mostly at dental clinics(39.0%)(pE0.001).

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2022

Background: Few studies have evaluated the exposure to phthalates via inhalation of floor dust in children's living areas. Objectives: This study evaluated the concentration and exposure level of phthalates emitted from indoor floor dust in children's living areas. Methods: This study utilized the results of a survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment in 2019. Indoor dust was collected from 150 households with children aged 3~7 and 67 daycare centers or local children's centers by using vacuum cleaners. It was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Six types of phthalates were analyzed: Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), Di-N-octyl phthalate (DNOP), Diisononyl phthalate (DINP), Di -isodecyl phthalate (DIDP). Results: The medians of DEHP concentrations were 1,028 and 1,937 mg/kg in homes and daycare centers, respectively. The median and maximum values of daily intake were calculated by applying the median and 95th percentile values (the upper 5% of the total concentration) in dust measured in the homes. The DEHP median value was 1.6 ㎍/kg/bw/day, and a maximum A value of 7.8 ㎍/kg/bw/day was calculated. When the childcare center values were applied, the median daily intake of DEHP was 3.1 ㎍/kg/bw/day and the maximum value was 29.2 ㎍/kg/bw/day. As a result of calculating the daily intake by integrating the values of home and childcare facilities, the median and maximum values of daily intake were 1.9 and 10.9 ㎍/kg/bw/day, respectively. Conclusions: This study derives phthalate concentrations among the floor dust in homes and childcare facilities where children mainly spend time, and suggests their intake of phthalates through this. In particular, it was newly suggested that the phthalate concentrations in homes and childcare facilities are different, resulting in differences in intake.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.59-70
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of childcare teachers' professionalism on job performance, enhance the effectiveness of childcare teachers, and provide basic data to help them satisfy their duties. Statistical processing of the collected data has been studied through the SSPPWIN 21.0 program, level of expertise, understanding, skills, and attitude recognized by child care teachers, the higher the level of professionalism, the higher the age, educational background, and experience, the higher the level of expertise. In addition, various policy and institutional support at the level of childcare-related administrative agencies or local governments is needed to develop operational measures suitable for each type of daycare center and improve the quality of childcare services. Programs for the promotion of professionalism and job performance of childcare teachers should be developed and regular education, training and workshops should be provided to support application to childcare sites. This study is meant to improve the level of professionalism of daycare centers to achieve desirable professionalism and efficient organizational goals of daycare centers, and to improve the job performance of daycare centers and provide basic data to help them satisfy their jobs.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 2022

This qualitative study focused on the activation of cooperative child care sharing centers'. Eight centers nationwide were selected as example cases in accordance with region (large city, small and medium-sized city, county unit), opening time, operating institution, location, full-time care for dual-income children, and participation in the 2020 care community pilot project. Co-researchers visited each center together to observe the site and conducted in-depth interviews with the head of the center or dedicated staff using semi-structured questionnaires. Interview data were analyzed using triangle verification and transcribed : the data were then grouped into 12 categories and 34 subcategories. From this, the following three topics were derived: the main functions, operational difficulties, and activation conditions. In conclusion, four suggestions are made: 1. proper relationship with the Family center, the cooperative childcare sharing center, and the local care communities 2. activation plan through "solution of operational difficulties" 3. "extension" of the cooperative child care sharing center 4. the role of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Korea Institute for Healthy Family, local governments, and Family Centers.

• Korean Journal of Comparative Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.285-310
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• 2017

This study reviews recent changes in parenting support policy in Japan, and examines the roles and functions of day-nursery as the base for parenting support in the local community. The purpose of this study is to provide implications for the direction of the parenting support policy and child-care facilities for the local communities in South Korea. The analysis concentrates on the official national reports such as the Declining Birthrate White Paper and Japan's National Guidelines for Care and Education at Day Nursery by the Japanese Cabinet Office. The study finds that the Japanese government has introduced comprehensive medium and long-term policies for all the members of the community with recognizing the changes in the domestic and foreign child-rearing environments and social needs. These policies have also helped to improve the social awareness of parenting. The role of the day-care center has been raised as a significant part of the support for child-rearing in the local community due to the revision of the Child Welfare Act for nursery school teachers in 2001 and the official announcement of Japan's National Guidelines for Care and Education at Day Nursery in 2008. The study also concludes that the social responsibility of the nursery center has been strengthened by being utilized as a public resource for the community. From the findings, we can elicit the conclusions and implications that the roles and functions of child care centers as a significant base for parenting support in the local communities need to be considered. We also listen to the voices of stakeholders such as parents and staff of child care centers. Last but not least, we would understand the social role and importance of bringing up children by cooperation of the community members, and promote the role of child care centers as a central place providing and communicating information on child-rearing in the local communities.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.716-727
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• 2015

The location and distribution of daycare centers do not reflect local daycare demand enough although government has increased facilities and financial supports to solve the low birthrate as a social problem. This study tried to examine spatial inequality of daycare center distribution by comparing the number of daycare facilities between city and rural communities in Jeollanam-Do. Analyzing the differences between city (5 Cities) and rural area (17 Guns) in Jeollanam-Do, it has been found that there were large differences in the number of available facilities per 1,000 children between Cities (10.9 facilities) and Guns as rural area (6.2 facilities). The average number of facilities in each City and Gun also showed a large discrepancy as a City has 147.8 facilities and a Gun has 15.4 facilities, respectively. There were total 78 Dong or Myeon with no facility at all as a dead zone of daycare, and 8 of them were Myeons in cities with 560 children, which accounted for 0.7% of total population of children in cities. On the other hand, 70 Myeons in Guns with 5,269 children have no facilities at all, which accounted for 11% of total population of children in Guns. Public facilities that parents prefer were more in cities (87) than Guns (28). Therefore, it is necessary to consider various childcare policies with minimizing discrepancies between city and rural area and investigating more accurate local demands and characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.211-234
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• 2013

Over the past decade, there has been considerable policy development in early childhood education and care in Korea. The focus is now shifting from the federal government to grassroots initiatives or efforts in local communities in order to provide information or programs for all eligible families with young children. There is a strong need for more integrative and comprehensive parenting support programs(titled Child Care Information Center, Young Plaza in Korea) for families with young children to meet their diverse needs of child rearing. This paper overviews the current status and trends on the support system in which early childhood education and care and parenting support centers are embedded in Korea as well as those of developed counties. Also, the issues of development and implementation of more effective parenting support programs are key themes throughout this paper. Implications and suggestions for research, practice, and policy development in the future were provided.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.5-29
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to find out various problem behaviors of children who were not diagnosed with any disability, but instead, engaged in problem behaviors. This study also intended to review the difficulties of children with problem behaviors, their teachers' difficulties and needs, to suggest support for child care and education teachers. This study conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with eight child care and education teachers. The interviews were transcribed into text and analyzed by contents. The results of this study are as follows. Problem behaviors of children described by teachers were classified into external and internal types. In addition, children with problem behaviors had experienced difficulties in maintaining relationships with their teachers, peers and parents. Many teachers were not successful to provide appropriate support for preschoolers who demonstrated problem behaviors in classrooms or some teachers provided individualized support. Teachers adapted the behavioral and the psychological approaches to problem behaviors of preschoolers. However, teachers reported difficulties with children with problem behavior and brought up the following issues on teaching children with problem behaviors; managing troubled matters happening in the class, difficulty in controlling teacher's emotions on problem behaviors, the lack of time, the integrated child care time without teacher in charge of child, the interruption in activity progress, the lack of a special way to deal with problem behaviors, and difficulty in cooperation with families through parents-teacher counseling sessions. Teachers counseled with parents who had a child with problem behaviors and revealed that parents reacted to problem behaviors in various ways such as embarrassment, acceptance, ignorance, or avoidance. Most teachers received assistance and support for teaching children with problem behaviors, from families, local communities and in-service training. Lastly, teachers with preschoolers with problem behaviors needed the support of experts on managing behavior problems, assistant teaching personnel, education for parents and teachers, respects for teachers, psychological counseling or play therapy from professional service agencies, diagnosis service at child care and education centers which children attended, and support networking with agencies. Teachers also required the family support of medical diagnosis and psychological counseling and financial support from the government.