Mothers' opinions regarding child care centers for preschool children

The purposes of the study were to investigate: (1) the need for a child care center in a small textile community; (2) the type of center the parents preferred; and (3) the treatment and services expected from such centers. The study was limited to 50 mothers who had children of preschool age and who lived in Cramerton, North Carolina. An interview schedule based on the review of literature was developed to ascertain the three objectives. A personal data sheet was included for obtaining demographic information. The interview schedule and the personal data sheet were administered to the subjects in their homes. After two attempts were made to contact the randomly selected respondents, twenty-two substitutions were made. The findings of the study in relation to the need for a center were: $6 per cent of the children were of preschool age; and various child care arrangements were used by parents. Forty-eight per cent of the mothers were employed, but 81 per cent of the unemployed mothers said that they would become employed if suitable child care were available