Abstract
The study used a form of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Preprimary Project which was adapted for the Australian context to investigate the patterns of usage and factors behind parental choices of early childhood services for four-year-old children in the year prior to formal education. Data were obtained from interviews with 175 parents, usually the mother, regarding where, with whom and how their children spent their day and week. The findings revealed that many children in Victoria spent time in a number of services each day. A substantial number also participated in extra-curricular activities and recreational activities. Data collected concerning parental selection of particular services revealed the complex early care and education arrangements that parents were required to make to meet the educational and social needs of their children as well as the work related needs which influenced parental choice.
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