Research on the Current Status and Influencing Factors of Family-based Childcare Services for 0-3-Year-Olds in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Hecheng District, Huaihua City

Early education is a key stage in promoting the physical and psychological development of infants and toddlers, and home-based childcare is an integral part of childcare services. To understand the current status of existing home-based childcare in the urban area and the childcare needs of parents of infants and toddlers, to analyze the factors affecting the parents of infants and toddlers in their choice of childcare services, and to provide feasible suggestions for the development of home-based childcare services in the urban area based on the targeted parents’ childcare preferences. Using questionnaire and interview methods, a survey of two hundred parents of infants and toddlers in Hecheng District and ten parents interviewed found that the factors affecting the demand for home-based childcare services include environmental facilities, geographic location, teacher level, and childcare costs. Therefore, regulating childcare places, upgrading the quality of home-based childcare, providing diversified and personalized home-based childcare services, and accelerating the training of home-based childcare personnel can promote the development of home-based childcare services in urban areas in many ways.