Family child care providers' self-perceived role in obesity prevention: working with children, parents, and external influences.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the perspective and strategies of family child care providers (FCCPs) to reduce children's suboptimal weight trajectories.

DESIGN

In-person, in-depth interviews with FCCPs.

SETTING

Family child care homes.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventeen FCCPs caring for children 6 weeks to 9 years old; 94% caring for children paying with a state subsidy.

PHENOMENON OF INTEREST

Strategies of FCCP to reduce children's suboptimal weight trajectories.

ANALYSIS

Constant comparative method of qualitative data analysis.

RESULTS

Family child care providers described 3 core strategies: (1) improving children's behavior, (2) engaging and educating parents, and (3) leveraging influences external to their relationship with parents to effect positive change and to avoid parental conflict. These strategies were framed within their knowledge of child development, parental communication, and community services.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The findings suggest that FCCPs' role in obesity prevention may be framed within knowledge that may be commonly expected of a child care provider. Partnerships between public health policy makers and FCCP may reduce obesigenic environments by employing training and resources that link obesity prevention and child care provider expertise.