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Defining Quality in Early Learning and Childcare among Visible Cultural Minority Families in Edmonton, Alberta
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- Author / Creator
- Ilumin, Primitivo
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Immigration is a key part of Canada’s strategy for population growth, and in recent years the number of visible minority immigrant families have seen a significant increase. However, they face significant settlement challenges that can lead to chronic poverty. For those with children, poverty can adversely impact a child’s growth and development as learning, behaviour, and wellbeing are largely shaped by early childhood experiences. On the contrary, quality early learning and childcare (ELCC) can promote holistic growth and child development outcomes. However, quality in ELCC is poorly defined, although there is some consensus that it is contextual; hence it is important to get the perspectives of different stakeholders. A qualitative descriptive methodology and a community-based participatory approach to research were used in this study to explore visible minority families’ experiences in ELCC and how these shape their definition of quality ELCC. Focus groups and interviews with 30 parents from six visible minority communities were conducted—the responses from which were analyzed using thematic analysis. The arising themes described the multidimensionality of ELCC: how each of its components such as the curriculum or staff is a salient predictor of quality ELCC. More importantly, ELCC is also a system comprised of those interconnected components and cannot be reduced to the sum of each of its components because the quality of ELCC is also determined by the interactions, integrations, and synergies that exist or do not exist between and among its components. ELCC in Edmonton needs to be more responsive to the needs of diverse families in terms of its components, their relationships, and as a fully integrated system grounded in equity, diversity, and inclusion principles. The insights that emerged from this study contribute to a better understanding of how the local ELCC system in Edmonton can best respond to diverse families’ ELCC needs.
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- Graduation date
- Spring 2023
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Arts
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.