Resumen

GRANDE, Catarina Rodrigues et al. A experiência do bebé na creche: Perceções de mães e de educadoras no período de transição do contexto familiar para a creche. Aná. Psicológica [online]. 2017, vol.35, n.3, pp.247-262. ISSN 0870-8231.  https://doi.org/10.14417/ap.1174.

Infants’ transition to day-care center is a critical and complex process for professionals working in the day-care centers, families and children who experience parental separation and adaptation to a new space, new routines and new people with whom they have to interact (Datler, ErekyStevens, HoverReisner, & LarsErik Malmberg, 2012). As such, a carefully planned transition must be part of the day-care center global functioning, which shall try to identify factors that influence infant adaptation to the new context and factors that promote the continuity of practices and routines between both day-care center and family contexts (Peixoto, Coelho, Pinto, Cadima, Barros, & Pessanha, 2014). This study aims to contribute to the understanding of infant experience during the transition period from the family environment to the day-care center, analyzing mothers’ and teachers’ perception of the infant’s emotional state, the maintenance of routines between settings and the frequency of parent-daycare center communication during this period. Mothers and teachers of 90 infants of the Great Metropolitan Area of Oporto replied to the Questionnaire of Experience in the Day-care center (Skouteris & Dissanayake, 2001), in the first and in the fourth week of the day-care center attendance. Mothers’ and teachers’ perception of infants’ emotional state and frequency of communication between family and day care was positive, with teachers showing a more positive perception regarding both their emotional state and communication. From the first to the fourth week (a) a more positive evaluation regarding the emotional state of the infants was reported by the mothers and the teachers, as well as (b) a decrease in frequency of communication. Additionally, results indicate that more positive emotional state of the infants seems to be associated with higher communication frequency between the family and day-care center personnel, reported by the teachers. It was also verified that children who remain less time in the day-care center during the first week are those who show a more positive emotional state in the fourth week, according to teachers’ perceptions. This study seems to highlight the care of both families and teachers during infants’ transition to day-care center and to emphasize the importance of the involvement of both families and professionals in order to allow for a better adjustment of the infant.

Palabras clave : Transition; Parent-caregiver communication; Adjustment.

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