Family CARES Study
The Family Childcare Assessment of Resources, Education, and Support for Physical Activity and Sleep Study, aka the Family CARES Study explored the experiences, needs, and current practices of family and home-based childcare providers across Western Massachusetts related to children's physical activity, sleep, and daily movement behaviors. Through surveys of childcare providers, the study examined barriers, facilitators, knowledge, and available resources that influence healthy routines for young children in home-based care settings.
Findings from this project are helping inform the development of future programs and resources that support family childcare providers in promoting healthy movement and sleep habits among the children they serve.
Findings
Research Publication: Physical Activity and Sleep, Knowledge and Perceptions of Child Movement Behaviours and Childcare Practices Among Home Providers: A Survey Study (2026)
Conference Poster Presentation (preliminary findings): St. Laurent, CW, Kang, J,* and Tran, C.* (2024, April). Sleep behaviors, perceptions, and practices among home and family childcare providers in western Massachusetts. Poster presentation at the International Pediatric Sleep Medicine Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.