We’re Not Robots: The Voices Of Daycare Providers

We’re Not Robots The Voices of Daycare Providers Enid Elliot Foreword by Janet Gonzalez-Mena We’re Not Robots SUNY series, Early Childhood Education: Inquiries and Insights Mary A. Jensen, editor We’re Not Robots The Voices of Daycare Providers Enid Elliot ❖_________ _________ Foreword by Janet Gonzalez-Mena State University of New York Press Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2007 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210–2384 Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Anne M. Valentine Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Elliot, Enid, 1947– We’re not robots: the voices of daycare providers / Enid Elliot, foreword by Janet Gonzalez-Mena. p. cm. — (SUNY series, early childhood education) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978–0–7914–6941–5 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0–7914–6941–7 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978–0–7914–6942–2 (pbk : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0–7914–6942–5 (pbk : alk. paper) 1. Child care workers—Psychology. 2. Infants—Care—Psychological aspects. 3. Toddlers—Care—Psychological aspects. I. Title. II. Series. HQ778.5.E54 2007 362.71⬘2—dc22 2005037860 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Acknowledgments vii Foreword by Janet Gonzalez-Mena ix Chapter One: Relationship with a Baby 1 Chapter Two: The Pull to Attach 13 Chapter Three: Caring for Attachment 29 Chapter Four: The Public Story of Caregiving 41 Chapter Five: Practitioner to Reseacher: Telling Stories 51 Chapter Six: Responsive Caregiving 71 Chapter Seven: Hearing from the Caregivers 101 Chapter Eight: Places of Difficulty 119 v vi Contents Chapter Nine: Supportive Contexts 137 Chapter Ten: Conclusion 151 Notes 169 Works Cited 171 Index 191 Acknowledgments T hough a solitary journey, the road to this book has not been travelled alone. I have had good companions for whom I am grateful. Margie Mayfield helped me get started; Alison Preece and Antoinette Oberg provided insights, warm support, and helped me come to an end. Jinny Hayes, Frances Ricks, Martha Haylor provided support along the way, as did Carol Anne Wien. Friends kept me going with encouragement, help, and feedback. I particularly want to thank Heather Kay and Janet Gonzalez-Mena, who read innumerable bits and pieces of this book and never lost enthusiasm. I want to acknowledge the caregivers with whom I have worked and learned. I continue