Characteristics of Older Child Care Workers

A total of 136 child care workers from licensed day care facilities were surveyed regarding their perceptions of job value, support systems, and indices of professionalism. Overall, younger and older respondents did not differ in their perceptions of job importance or success. They did differ in their ratings of traditional male and female occupations, including child care work, and in their perceived support from spouses, children, child clients, parent clients, and society. Older child care workers rated traditional male jobs higher and traditional female jobs lower. Their reported perceptions of support from children for their child care work were higher than those of younger workers, while perceptions of support from society were lower. Implications for career development, training of older child care workers, and professional development are discussed. (Author/RH) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. U E. DEPANTMENT OF EDUCATION Office o Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER tERICI XThis document has been reproduced as °cowed from the person or organization originating it C ' Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality Points of slew or opinions stated in thiSdocu-sent do not necessarily represent official OERt position or polic