Conceptions about child development in the perspective of educators in public and private daycare centers

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the teachers’ conceptions of child developmentin public and private daycare centers. Therefore, semi structured interviews were applied to 24 teachers. Data were analyzed with the thematic content analysis technique. Generally, it was found that, in what concerns ideas about child development, the subcategory Development by stages predominated in both groups of educators. The teachers high lighted the Unstructured sociofamilial environment and the Unpreparedness of the educators as the main negative points to the promotion of child development and characterized the development of children, when inserted into the routine of the nursery, as positive. With this study we aimed to provide information for planning interventions in order to promote child development.