The Impact of Psychological Practice in Albanian Daycares: Reflections of Parents and Caregivers

Abstract

This qualitative study analyzes reflections of parents and caregivers on the impact of psychological practice in daycares.
There have been taken 39 semi-structured interviews with parents who bring their children in daycares and 26 semi-structured interviews
with caregivers working in five daycares in Tirana. The results taken by parents’ semi-structured interviews suggested that psychological
practice in daycares need to focus more on parents as well. Even though there are a few contacts between parents and psychologists in
daycares, parents demonstrated interest in having consultation with psychologists regarding the child development. On the other hand,
the results taken by caregivers working in daycares suggested that psychological practice has had a great impact in their work with
children. According to them psychological practice has been supportive especially in caring for children with autism and other pervasive
developmental disorders, in training them with current information in child development and in implementing the curriculum in daycares.
However, some caregivers expressed the idea that psychological practice would be more helpful especially if they could model from
psychologists the age-appropriate behaviours that need to be carried out during the interactions with children. On conclusion, there is an
immediate need for further intervention targeting parents who bring their children in daycares so as to support them in their parenting
role. Also there is a need to collaborate with caregivers in a way that provides models of behaviours that come from everyday
interactions with children.