Parents’ Selection of Private Kindergartens in Bangkok Metropolis.

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate background characteristics of parents of preschool children, parents’ selection of private kindergartens, and factors related to their selection. A questionnaire was used for data collection. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 380 parents of preschool children in private kindergartens in Bangkok Metropolis. Two hundred and ninety three, 77.10 percent, usable questionnaires were returned for data analysis using percentage, mean and chi-square. The majority of parents of preschool children were government officials or working in state enterprises and private sector with bachelor degrees and earned 10,001-20,000 baht per month. The average monthly income was 36,834.70 Baht. The kindergartens most selected by parents were those near their residences, of those emphasizing on physical, emotional, social and intellectual development, those where teachers had good human relations, and lastly those providing snacks and milk for children. The findings of this study showed the relationships between background characteristics of the parents and their choices, statistically significant at the .05 level, as follows : 1) Parents’ occupation was related to their choices on playground, classroom size, activities provided during the summer session, administrators and teachers with preschool education and teaching ; 2) Parents’ education was related to their choices on appropriateness of facilities, learning materials and aids, appropriateness of number of teachers and their teaching, an snacks and milk provided for children; 3) Parents’ income was related to their choices on sufficiency and safety of playground facilities, comfortable bedroom, teachers with preschool education, caregivers being trained in preschool children, appropriateness of number of teachers in each classroom, teachers with good human relations, and security in school.