Examining Correlations Between Area Crime Rates, Daycare Center Licensing Violations, Caregiver Discipline Techniques, and the Deviant Behaviors of Preschoolers
This research examines correlations between area crime rates, daycare center licensing violations, caregiver discipline techniques, and the deviant behaviors of preschoolers. As gender roles in society continue to equate, it becomes increasingly necessary for children to attend daycare. Many of these children spend up to 30 hours a week in the daycare system, effectively making their daycare teachers co-parents. The disciplinary techniques of daycare employees, the crime rates in the area in which the facility is located, and the deviant behaviors of preschoolers are all factors which may affect psychosocial development in early childhood. It is important that we understand the effects that some of these daycare experiences can have on preschoolers during early childhood and beyond. Understanding these interactions on a deeper level may lend insight on how to avoid negative early childhood experiences that are shown to be statistically significant in contributing to deviant and delinquent behaviors. To explore these interactions, this research examines the activities of 30 Tulsa, Oklahoma daycare centers located in three crime rate areas as defined by the Tulsa Police Department. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services licensed daycare centers were selected according to the disciplinary nature of published OKDHS non-compliances, and placed in each category according to the crime rates within a five mile radius of each facility. The researcher visited each daycare center and observed the activities of the children and employees. Instances of deviant behaviors as well as good behaviors of preschoolers were recorded, as well as general notes about the interactions between the employees and the children, the state of the facility, and the apparent adherence or lack thereof to OKDHS rules and regulations. The data were analyzed and is presented in consideration of development of youth violence and school safety concerns. There was no statistically significant effect of area crime rates on daycare center licensing techniques, or the deviant behaviors of preschoolers. There were, however, qualitative findings that suggest that caregiver discipline techniques do vary across crime rate areas at DHS licensed daycare centers in Tulsa, OK. This finding indicates that there is an increased need for understanding the effects of discipline techniques on the psychosocial development of preschoolers within the daycare setting.Forensic Scienc
