Child Care

Centers on Saipan
Formal Child Care before Entering the First Grade
Chelsea Encio

About the Research

This research paper is about the importance of having children attend schools
before the actual schools here in Saipan. Daycares on island are a fresh start
for toddlers, they can learn to get along with other children their age and be
sure they are being cared for. Preschool is where children transition and learn
educational things that they will carry on to the next level. Kindergarten is
where children, usually around the age four to six will be prepared to advance
to the first grade. We have many daycares, preschools and kindergarten on
island and what is the purpose of that? Many students start first grade in a
public or private school with no educational background. It would be more
difficult for the elementary teachers to start fresh just to help these new
students who have no experience inside a classroom or a school environment.

Literature Review
Using Google Scholar search located a book called Early Childhood Education by
Barbara Bowman. The book helped the student researcher transition from the
importance of child education to the importance of child development, which support
the theories of development and learning of children below the age of seven.
A textbook called Child Development by Laura E. Berk has many theories on how
different child developments process.
News articles found in the Marianas Variety that talked about child care funds for
the centers on Saipan that would help families in need. It helps current news items
support the research essay because the funding for child care are important to the
islands parents of young children, and the residents who need the educational
centers to be affordable for their children to learn and grow in a fun, safe, and
healthy environment.

Primary and Secondary

Questions

Primary Question:
Are child care facilities effective in the island of Saipan?
Secondary Question 1:
If the children of the island of Saipan attend a child care facility, will
it help improve their minds before they advanced to the first grade?
Secondary Question 2:
What helps children develop the skills and behavior to learn within a
classroom environment?

Methodology
There are three methods that were used to help gain information for this research project,
one is a survey, the other is an interview, and the last one would be an observation.
The survey has helped provide a generalize opinion on child care centers. The survey
would be based on the experiences of the participants with child care centers in the island
of Saipan.
Interviewing parents of children who attend and did not attend the child care centers and
a one on one interview with principals and teachers of elementary schools that have
expertise on child development and learning.
Observation between the different schools and child care facilities in Saipan. This method
will be the most effective one because being in the classroom or child care facility to see
and gain experience on how children behave and learn would provide a first person point
of view information for the student researcher.

Analysis
People who answered the surveys left comments on pros and cons of
having child care centers on Saipan and it is very effective to read what
the public has to say about the centers.
The interviews with the principals and teachers explained how children
learn and that every one of them are different levels. Having a child
come in from daycare or preschool or kindergarten has made it easier
for the teachers to teach them within the class because they have the
experience.
Observation of the classes and centers has helped with mini interviews
with students and instructors and to see what goes on within the room.

References
Berk, L. (2013). Child development (9th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Day care providers complete NMC training - Saipan News,

Headlines, Events, Ads | Saipan

Tribune. (2014, February 14). Retrieved March 11, 2015, from
http://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/day-care-providerscomplete-nmc-training/
DCCA fears lower child care fund for next 3 years. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 11, 2015, from
http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/38390-dccafears-lower-child-care
fund-for-next-3-years
HARRIS-SOLOMON, AMY. "Child Care."Encyclopedia of
Education. 2003. Retrieved
February 16, 2015 from
Encyclopedia.com:http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2
3403200105.html

NMI to recognize child care providers. (n.d.). Retrieved February

16, 2015, from

http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/55666-nmi-torecognize-child-care

providers

NMI has 34 licensed child care centers - Saipan Tribune. (2011,

July 12). Retrieved February 16,
2015, from http://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/bcce02161dfb-11e4-aedf

250bc8c9958e/

(n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2015, from

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1167341?
sid=21106095360923&uid=3738600&u

d=2&uid=4