Correlational Factors on Parent’s Evaluation for Kindergarten/Childcare Centers of Their Children – Part II:

To clarify the characteristics of parents’ evaluation of kindergarten/childcare centers, we administered a Web-based survey to parents of children up to 6 years old. A psychological scale to evaluate parents’ positive experiences at their own kindergarten/childcare centers was developed using factor analysis. The scores were higher in mothers than in fathers. Eight items of emotions for their children were classified into positive or negative emotions, and the corresponding emotion scores were calculated. These two emotion scores had no significant gender differences. Multiple regression analysis predicted the evaluation of kindergarten/childcare centers of their child by independent variables, including evaluation of parents’ positive experiences at kindergarten/childcare centers they attended, positive/negative emotions for their child, and costs of childcare. Fathers’ evaluations of kindergarten/childcare centers were predicted by parent’s positive experiences at kindergarten/childcare centers they attended, positive emotions for their children, and parenting time, while mothers’ were predicted by parent’s positive experiences at kindergarten/childcare centers they attended and positive emotions for their children. The present results suggested that overall positive attitude toward parenting and childhood correlates to a positive evaluation of kindergarten/childcare centers.