Parents’ Perception of Child Care Quality: Results from a Maryland Survey of TANF Applicants with Young Children

In a survey of 289 Maryland families with young children (ages 0-6) who recently applied for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, parents were asked their views on what is important to the overall quality of a child care arrangement. Researchers focused on four aspects of child care quality: 1) strategies to support children’s social and emotional development, 2) strategies to implement developmentally appropriate instructional practices, 3) family-sensitive caregiving practices, and 4) cultural responsiveness.