Circle Of Love

How do early childhood professionals bond with children without raising parental fears of losing their child's affection? Circle of Love explores the emotionally charged issue of loving children in professional settings. Learn how to redesign the family circle to include parents and professionals, so each child is surrounded with love. Based on real-life interviews, chapters include Loving Other People's Children, Parent-Provider Relationships, and Special Circumstances. In a very accessible style, Circle of Love provides stories and strategies to help parents and professionals do what their hearts tell them is right—love the children.

"Often, just at the right time—at the time when we as a society are ready to listen—a very important book appears. This is just the right time and just the right message in Amy C. Baker and Lynn A. Manfredi/Petitt's book: 'That children should spend a majority of their waking hours with people who care deeply about them.' This book should be required reading for all parents using child care and for caregivers providing care. If so, we would revolutionize the quality of care in this country."

—Ellen Galinsky, president, Families and Work Institute

"Circle of Love opens a discussion that hitherto has been closeted, as far as I know: What is the role love in family child care? ....

How can parents and providers both love the child without succumbing to jealousy or competition? What happens to the children when the provider sacrifices love to some concept of professionalism that dictates emulating a classroom teacher, instead of a loving family member? Baker and Manfredi-Petitt interviewed some veteran child care providers who struggled with children's attachment needs, as well as parents' tendency not to see the caregiver as a person who loves their child. They report their findings in this groundbreaking book, telling lots of stories and displaying a commitment to the idea of child care being a place of warmth and children's emotional growth. Give this book to a child care provider or a parent who is thinking about care for young child. It just may make the difference!"
—Childhood Education magazine

"Paid caregivers are responsible for comforting children, recognizing their discoveries, and celebrating their milestones. Like parents, many caregivers invest fully in children's lives. They care deeply, and children love them back. Although most parents recognize their children's need to be with people who care about them, they are not always comfortable with the ties that grow in child care settings. They want caregivers to love their children, but they may become nervous when love is mutual and children become attached. They sometimes fear that their own ties, which have been stretched through separation, will be weakened. Through interviews, conversations, and questionnaires with child care providers and parents, this book explores how providers can balance the needs of the children with the needs of the parents."
—Zero to Three

"This new book celebrates family child care at its best. It gives active family child care providers a model of parent-caregiver interaction that goes beyond current business or elementary school practice. Until Circle of Love, there have been no books that deal with the subject of bond between children, child care providers, and parents. This new book addresses sensitive issues, which often arise between parents and caregivers. Based on parents and family child care providers, this new resource introduces the reader to individuals who have found rich and wholesome ways to work together and meet the attachment needs of the children. It explores both the necessity of and barriers to loving bonds in family child care."
—The Children's Foundation Child Care Bulletin