Family childcare educators’ descriptions of their family-focused roles

This research highlights how family childcare educators in the United States view and navigate their work with the families of the children in their care. Although family–educator relationships can positively impact children’s learning and development and family functioning, mainstream definitions of family childcare quality often exclude or minimise these relationships. Using interview data from 26 licensed family childcare educators, I examine educators’ family-focused roles, the supports they offer to families, the strategies they use in those relationships and the challenges they face. Results illuminate the wide range of supports and resources family childcare educators offer families that can support family functioning and child development. They also reveal challenges in navigating family relationships that professional development could address.