Immigrants Families and Childcare Preferences: Do Immigrants’ Cultures Influence Their Childcare Decisions?

Circle of Care

“…Despite the fact that existing literature about collaborative caretaking has predominately focused on ethnic minorities, immigrants, and international samples (Chamberlain, 2003; Howes et al, 2007; Jones et al, 2007; Kopera-Frye, 2009; Obeng, 2007), results indicated that the overall caretaking network composition and the average caretaking network size did not differ between the ethnically diverse and the White youths. However, consistent with the highly relational nature of females and the Latino cultural value for “ familismo ” (i.e.…”

“…Collaborative caretaking practices are common to the cultural value system for many groups, including African American families (Jones et al, 2007), African tribal communities and African immigrant families (Obeng, 2007), Mexican immigrant families (Howes, Guerra, & Zucker, 2007), Israeli kibbutzim (Aviezer, Van IJzendoorn, Sagi, & Schuengel, 1994), and Caribbean migrant families (Chamberlain, 2003). For example, in a study of African tribal immigrants, participants agreed that collectivistic childcare arrangements with extended networks promoted socialization and a more positive life trajectory for children (Obeng, 2007).…”

“…For example, in a study of African tribal immigrants, participants agreed that collectivistic childcare arrangements with extended networks promoted socialization and a more positive life trajectory for children (Obeng, 2007). …”

Partners in Parenting: An Overview of the Literature on Parents’ and Nonparental Adults’ Perspectives on Shared Responsibilities in Childrearing

“…Grandmothers, in particular, appeared to support their adult children by providing -mainly practical -childcare, mostly from a personal desire to be engaged in the upbringing of their grandchildren (Chamberlain, 2003). Another study focusing on immigrant perceptions of shared childrearing was conducted by Obeng (2007). This study demonstrated that although most African immigrant parents in the U.S. preferred informal over formal childcare, the majority took their children to a daycare center.…”

“…This study demonstrated that although most African immigrant parents in the U.S. preferred informal over formal childcare, the majority took their children to a daycare center. The interviews revealed that parents perceived daycare centers -where multiple childcare workers took care of their child -as a form of childcare that corresponded to their tradition of shared childrearing (Obeng, 2007).…”