CHILDREN'S OPINION ON CONDITIONS IN DAY CARE CENTERS

Day care centers for children are alternative ways to protect children and help parents with community-based problems. Articles from the literature are reviewed, signaling the positive and negative aspects of day centers on children's development. The main objective of the research was to highlight the children's opinion regarding the atmosphere and the activities in the day center. For this, the study included a group of 30 children (9 boys and 21 girls) aged between 7 and 14-15 years who attend the day center for a period between 1 year and 12 years. An interview guide was constructed covering four areas: personal data, relationships with colleagues and day center staff, family relationships, school performance and help provided by the center. The children's responses were anonymous and were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The conclusions show that day centers are a real help to children in doing homework and explaining aspects that were not understood at school. In addition, they offer ways to spend free time that children would like to diversify. The regular presentation of these opinions to the management of the day center and to the community could help to improve the atmosphere and relations in the center, as well as to improve and diversify the activities carried out.