child care

Nurturance and management of the day-to-day requirements to sustain the successful development of children. Although the term can apply to any activity in which a youngster's needs are provided for by a parent or guardian, it is specifically applied to children in institutions or 24-hour group-living situations. In this context, child care activities include physical care (such as feeding and clothing), habit development (such as personal hygiene and socialization), self-management (discipline), therapeutic care (counseling), tutoring, and first aid. These activities also include running the living group as a cohesive unit and managing the institutional program.