Parents' Recognition of Center for Children's Food Service Management and Preschoolers' Satisfaction with Menu Provided by Childcare Centers and Food Life Regarding Vegetable Intake

This study was conducted to determine parents' recognition of the Center for children's foodservice management (CCFSM) and to compare preschoolers' satisfaction for meals served by childcare centers and some aspects regarding the vegetable intake according to the parents' recognition of CCFSM. The subjects were 255 parents, whose children were 2~5 year old and attended a childcare center, were grouped according to the recognition of CCFSM (high recognition, HR, 27.5%; medium recognition, MR, 47.4%; low recognition, LR, 25.1%). Information was obtained by a self-administered questionnaire and data were analyzed by SPSS 25.0. Only 58.6% of HR and 10.7% of MR answered the they had participated education/event held by the CCFSM. More parents in the HR group (88.6%) acknowledged the helpfulness of CCFSM on the children's food habits compared to those in the MR group (63.6%) (P<0.001). Compared to the MR and LR groups, more parents in the HR group answered not only that they were ‘satisfied’/‘very satisfied’ with the meals served by childcare centers (P<0.05), but also they tended to think that their children were also satisfied (P=0.061). Up to 31.2% of parents in the LR group answered that there was no need for education to increase the vegetable intake of their child compared to 14.3% and 17.4% in the HR and MR groups, respectively (P<0.05). Moreover, up to 26.6% of parents answered that school cook planned menus compared to 5.7% and 13.2% in the HR and MR group, respectively (P<0.001). In conclusion, the results provided the association between parents' high recognition of CCFSM and preschoolers' satisfaction for meals from childcare centers as well as a better chance for a desirable food life regarding vegetable intake.

Impacto da Creche para a Interação Mãe-Criança e para o Desenvolvimento Infantil / Effects of Childcare Centers on Mother-Child Interaction and Child Development

RESUMO Buscou-se investigar o impacto da creche na interação mãe-criança e no desenvolvimento infantil nos dois primeiros anos de vida da criança. Participaram 44 crianças (M= 6,4 meses; DP= 1,6) e suas mães (M= 34,1 anos; DP= 5,2), divididas em dois grupos: Grupo Creche (21 crianças que frequentavam a creche) e Grupo Não Creche (23 que não frequentavam). Avaliou-se o desenvolvimento aos 6, 12 e 18 meses da criança e a interação mãe-criança aos 12 e 18 meses. Os resultados revelaram que a frequência à creche não interferiu na qualidade da interação mãe-criança e não diferenciou os grupos quanto ao desenvolvimento infantil (cognitivo, linguagem, socioemocional), indicando que famílias de classes média e alta e creches com qualidade suficiente podem se igualar em seus eventuais benefícios.

Abstract The present study investigated the impact of childcare centers on mother-child interaction and on child development in the first two years of a child's life. The study was comprised of 44 children (M=6.4months, SD=1.6) and their mothers (M=34.1years, SD=5.2) divided into two groups: Childcare Center Group (N=21) and Non-Childcare Center Group (N=23). The infant development was evaluated at 6, 12 and 18 months and mother-child interaction was assessed at the 12th and 18th months. The results revealed that childcare centers did not affect the quality of mother-child interaction and did not set apart the groups in relation to child development (cognitive, language, socioemotional), indicating that middle and upper class families and qualified childcare centers can be equally beneficial.

Analysis of the Importance-Performance Related service management and feeding practices of teachers at mealtime in childcare centers / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in order to determine the difference of Importance and Performance Related service management and feeding practices of teachers at mealtime in childcare centers. METHODS: In December, 2013, questionnaires were completed by teachers working at childcare centers in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. A total of 179 teachers responded to questions regarding perceived importance and degree of performing related service management and feeding practices at mealtime in childcare centers. Factor analysis and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) were used. RESULTS: Four factors including 11 items were represented by factor analysis: 'Personal hygiene management', 'Feeding practice', 'Food material management', and 'Service at serving foods'. For 'Personal hygiene management', scores for perception on importance and performance were 4.42 and 3.84 points of 5 that were the lowest among factors. As a result of IPA, teachers were aware of the importance and performed well, 'Encouraging and praising children's eating habits at mealtime', 'Giving thanks before and after a meal', and 'Sitting and eating with children at mealtime' belonged to 'Feeding practice'; whereas they were not aware of the importance and performed insufficiently, 'Wearing the hygiene hat for serving foods', 'Wearing disposable gloves for serving foods', and 'Wearing the apron for serving foods' belonged to 'Personal hygiene management'. CONCLUSION: For children's health and safety in foodservice at childcare centers, personal hygiene management is very important when cooking as well as serving food. The results suggest that education targeting personal hygiene management is necessary for management of hygiene by teachers while serving food in childcare centers. In addition, guidelines on service management and feeding practice are needed for teachers working at childcare centers.

The effects of a newsletter on bedding control on house dust mite allergen concentrations in childcare centers in Korea

OBJECTIVES: Bedding in childcare centers (CCCs) can hold house dust mite (HDM) allergens. This study examined whether HDM allergen levels can be reduced through the distribution of an educational newsletter on bedding control to parents of CCC children in Korea. METHODS: All 38 CCCs were measured for Der 1 (sum of Der f 1 and Der p 1) concentrations on classroom floors and bedding before the intervention. Educational newsletters on children’s bedding control were sent to 21 CCCs by mail, and teachers were asked to distribute the newsletters to the parents of the children (intervention group). The remaining 17 CCCs were not sent newsletters (control group). The measurement of Der 1 concentrations in 38 CCCs was repeated after the intervention. Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS: The Der 1 concentrations on the bedding were significantly higher than those on the floors in 38 CCCs at baseline (p<0.05). Although changes of the Der 1 concentrations for the control group (n=17) were not significant, Der 1 concentrations for the intervention group (n=21) decreased significantly from 2077.9 ng/g dust to 963.5 ng/g dust on the floors and from 3683.9 ng/g dust to 610.4 ng/g dust on bedding (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of educational newsletters on bedding control to parents may be an effective means of controlling HDMs in CCCs.

The effects of a newsletter on bedding control on house dust mite allergen concentrations in childcare centers in Korea

OBJECTIVES: Bedding in childcare centers (CCCs) can hold house dust mite (HDM) allergens. This study examined whether HDM allergen levels can be reduced through the distribution of an educational newsletter on bedding control to parents of CCC children in Korea. METHODS: All 38 CCCs were measured for Der 1 (sum of Der f 1 and Der p 1) concentrations on classroom floors and bedding before the intervention. Educational newsletters on children’s bedding control were sent to 21 CCCs by mail, and teachers were asked to distribute the newsletters to the parents of the children (intervention group). The remaining 17 CCCs were not sent newsletters (control group). The measurement of Der 1 concentrations in 38 CCCs was repeated after the intervention. Dust samples were collected with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS: The Der 1 concentrations on the bedding were significantly higher than those on the floors in 38 CCCs at baseline (p<0.05). Although changes of the Der 1 concentrations for the control group (n=17) were not significant, Der 1 concentrations for the intervention group (n=21) decreased significantly from 2077.9 ng/g dust to 963.5 ng/g dust on the floors and from 3683.9 ng/g dust to 610.4 ng/g dust on bedding (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of educational newsletters on bedding control to parents may be an effective means of controlling HDMs in CCCs.

A Study of Parents' Satisfaction and Needs for Foodservice Quality of the Childcare Centers in Chungnam Asan Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

We tried to find out parents' satisfaction and needs for foodservice quality of the childcare centers with an intention of improving it. Self-completed questionnaires were randomly collected from the parents of children in 174 childcare centers around Asan and were analyzed. Most of respondents were mothers who were housewives with college degrees (69%) in their 30's (80%). They thought nutrition (50%) and food hygiene (43%) were the most important factors for decision. Eighty percent of parents recognized the strong relationship between foodservice quality and childrens' mental and physical development. Most centers (94%) were delivering menu notices home, so parents well recognized the center's foodservice situation and problems of their kids' eating habits. The parents' satisfaction scores were 3.26 out of 5-point scale. The biggest dissatisfaction was from no variation in menu, but remarkable appreciation was from the effect of foodservice on the correction for kids' unbalanced diet habit. They had demands for improvement of nutritious menu and professional nutrition teacher in charge of foodservice and nutrition education for children and also for parents.

The Foodservice Sanitation Status of the Child Care Centers at Asan City in Chungnam / 대한지역사회영양학회지

We investigated the foodservice sanitation status of the childcare centers in Chungnam Asan area to provide the information for sanitation guidelines and checklist in various operation types of childcare centers. Self-completed questionnaires were collected from the directors of 95 centers: national-public 9 (9.5%), corporation 10 (10.5%), private 52 (54.7%), and home care 24 (25.3%) types. The analyzed results are shown in foundation type; the investigated items are about critical hygienic problems and safety recognition level, presence of sanitation guideline, demand of dietian's employment and the role, hygienic management and education level, and the present and future of sanitary facility and equipment. From this study we found that home care center, which had low capacity, was comparatively poor at sanitation status, the use of hygienic standard and guideline, and safety recognition level. In our opinion, the use and application of same sanitation standard to any type and size of center is not appropriate and rational. The reestablishment of the sanitation guideline and checklist considering the conditions of various operation types would be necessary. Also periodic hygienic education by hygenic professionals, continuous parents' attention and cooperation of related government organizations are needed for improvement of foodservice sanitation status of childcare centers.

Evaluation of Foodservice Managers' Perception on Safety Management in Childcare Centers and Kindergartens / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of foodservice managers in childcare centers and kindergartens for identifying the vulnerable areas of safety management. The foodservice managers in 1,144 of nationwide childcare centers and kindergartens were surveyed from May to October 2007 to answer a total 72 questions in areas of general characteristics, actual practice of foodservice management and safety management perception. Meals were served in 97.7% of surveyed facilities and 91.0% among them were self-operated. The hiring rate (27.8%) of dietitians in childcare centers was significantly lower than the rate (82.0%) of kindergartens. The needs of dietitian employment between childcare centers and kindergartens differed as 44.9% and 87.5%, respectively. In knowledge on food-borne illnesses, they have the wrong information in the field of season for frequent outbreak, major pathogens and foods causing food-borne illnesses. The food-borne illnesses (36.2%) were indicated as the major problem in foodservice facilities and the degree of risk exposure was considered as safe (70.1%). More than 70% of both facilities answered as sanitary in the status of personal hygiene. Only 38.0% recognized the Facility and Equipment Standard in the Childcare Law and Early Childhood Education Law. In preparation of meals and management of cooking processes, kindergarten scored significantly high compared to childcare centers (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) while the necessity of standards was not different in both facilities. Among managers surveyed, 28.8% had taken food safety education from professional institutions and more than 80% in both facilities indicated the need of professional educations. These results suggest that it is necessary for the systematic sanitary education of foodservice managers by developing the sanitary management standard as well as the amendment of laws related foodservice in childcare centers and kindergartens.

A Survey on the Foodservice Management System of the Child Care Centers in Chungnam Asan Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

We investigated the foodservice management practices in various operation types of childcare centers in Asan, Chungnam Province, with the intention of improving the quality of foodservice and providing the basic information for establishing more effective and efficient foodservice model system. Self-completed questionnaires were collected from the directors of 174 child care centers. The statistical analysis was completed using SPSS Ver. 12.0 program. The followings are about the results of this study. Approximately 94.8% of the directors were women with the average age of 40.3. All of the investigated facilities executed foodservice; the facilities of 96.2% had been self-operated, 1.9% was contract-managed and the remaining 1.9% served delivered meal from outside. Only 20.0% of the investigated centers employed a dietitian. In most of the centers, meals were prepared in a conventional manner and approximately 85.3% of the centers are serving only snacks twice a day as a supplementary due to financial difficulties. Menu planner of the facilities, which have no dietitian was the director (35.8%) or the cook (25.7%). In most centers, the directors purchased the food materials (67.5%). Material inspection was done by the director (54.9%) or the cook (40.5%). However, home care centers did not inspect the food material. These results indicate that food service management guidelines need to be established by the facility type with the government control and financial support. Especially, dietitian employment and the efficient foodservice model system establishment are questions that confront us.

A Survey on the Health Examination of Child Care Centers / 아동간호학회지

PURPOSE: This descriptive study was conducted to examine the status of the health examination in child care centers. METHOD: The participants in this study were 631 child care centers. A self report questionnaire on health examination which has been examined for content validity, was distributed by mail to 2,000 child care centers using randomized sampling. RESULT: Of the sample, 76.2% child care centers had done health examination for children. Height & weight, urinalysis, dental check, anemia test and visual acuity were the most frequently performed items. The rate for maintaining a health record was highest in the national/public child care centers. Child care centers more closely related to community health centers, showed higher rates of health examination. CONCLUSION: Health care personnel and financial aids should be provided for child care centers to enhance the level of health management of children.

Exploration into the management control of maternity and childcare centers / 中华医院管理杂志

The nature and functions of maternity and childcare centers determine their innate features. Only by carefully studying these features can we grasp the operating patterns of the centers and improve the level of their management control. It is therefore imperative to pay attention to the public welfare feature of the products of maternity and childcare centers and the market feature of their operations when updating management control ideas; to pay attention to the multi function and scarce resources features of maternity and childcare centers when readjusting management control strategies; to pay attention to the comprehensive discipline and innovative technology features of maternity and childcare centers when stressing management control priorities; to pay attention to the unique customer feature of maternity and childcare centers and the network feature of their institutional framework when changing management control models.