Positioning flexibly scheduled ECEC in the chain of childcare by parents working non-standard hours

Abstract

This study examined how Finnish parents working non-standard hours (N=18) positioned institutional flexibly scheduled early childhood education and care (ECEC) as a link in their chain of childcare. Interview data, analysed following the principles of discursive psychology, yielded three discourses on flexibly scheduled ECEC: the discourse of the child’s best interest, the discourse of the labour market, and the discourse of equality of opportunity for the child. Flexibly scheduled ECEC was positioned in these discourses either as the last resort option for childcare, a safe haven for the child, a societal service enabling parents to work during non-standard hours or as a place for children’s learning. It is important to recognise the origins of these discourses and reflect on them to improve ECEC services, so that they meet the demands of safety as a link in the chain of childcare and increase the level of parental satisfaction with them.

Stabilise, balance and adjust—Framing the early years transitions of children whose parents work non‐standard hours

“…The results show that parents do not use available services to their full potential, which may be related to the negative stigma associated with extended hours ECEC (Anme et al, 2010;De Schipper et al, 2003;De Schipper et al, 2004;Halfon & Friendly, 2015;Jordan, 2008;Moilanen, 2019;Peltoperä, 2021;Peltoperä et al, 2017;Statham & Mooney, 2003). Therefore, the cultural expectations in general society with respect to non-standard hours of both work and childcare could be more accommodating (see also Krapf, 2014;Moilanen, 2019;Peltoperä, 2021). In addition to developing ECEC services, parents' possibilities to influence their working hours could be better considered, as these vary across work domains, occupations and gender (Immonen, 2020).…”

“…For example, Moilanen (2019) found that despite the subjective right of children to institutional ECEC in Finland, many Finnish parents working non-standard hours continue to face childcare-related problems to the same extent as their counterparts in the UK and the Netherlands, where institutional childcare during extended hours is extremely limited. These problems may have to do with the negative stigma attached to institutional childcare during non-standard hours that has been observed in some Finnish (Moilanen, 2019;Peltoperä, 2021;Peltoperä et al, 2017) and international (Anme et al, 2010;De Schipper et al, 2003;De Schipper et al, 2004;Halfon & Friendly, 2015;Jordan, 2008;Statham & Mooney, 2003) studies as well as the strong cultural ideals favouring informal homecare (Verhoef et al, 2016).…”

“…The question for future investigation is how to develop the ECEC services to make them an appealing childcare choice for parents working non-standard hours. The results show that parents do not use available services to their full potential, which may be related to the negative stigma associated with extended hours ECEC (Anme et al, 2010;De Schipper et al, 2003;De Schipper et al, 2004;Halfon & Friendly, 2015;Jordan, 2008;Moilanen, 2019;Peltoperä, 2021;Peltoperä et al, 2017;Statham & Mooney, 2003). Therefore, the cultural expectations in general society with respect to non-standard hours of both work and childcare could be more accommodating (see also Krapf, 2014;Moilanen, 2019;Peltoperä, 2021).…”