Introduction:

The new Cuban economic model has made possible the appearance of private daycare centers, but there is lack of knowledge concerning what aspects, from the perspective of childcare workers, should be considered as essential to perform caregiving.

Objective:

To explore, from the perspective of childcare workers, essential aspects of care in private daycare centers.

Methods:

Qualitative and exploratory study carried out between June and September 2021 with twelve childcare workers from private daycare centers in Santa Clara Municipality, Villa Clara Province, Cuba. The data were obtained through two rounds of interviews; the answers were processed through content analysis.

Results:

The following categories emerged from the first interview: hygiene and protection for care, child feeding, routines (sleep), problems related to care and routines (playing). Three categories emerged from the second interview: the need for a training manual, the need for a virtual consultation site, and the need for a training course.

Conclusions:

The need is highlighted to guarantee adequate hygiene in the daycare center and reduce the risk of accidents; diet and food preparation; tantrums, falls and fever as the most common problems; rest and playing routines, as well as their influence on harmonious child development; together with the fact that childcare workers should receive training through a specific manual designed for private daycare centers, any type of virtual consultation site and training course.

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