Characteristics of caregivers that promote children's development in day care

Most available evidence on day care suggests that characteristics of the caregiver are the key components of high-quality child care. Yet, this fact is rarely appreciated by parents or policy makers. As primary health care providers, nurses can educate parents, caregivers, and policy-makers concerning the broad array of day-care features, including caregiver characteristics that should be considered. This article provides a review of the research on characteristics of caregivers that are found in high-quality day care and describes how these factors facilitate optimal development in young children. From the research findings, implications for nursing practice at the family, community, and national levels are identified.