title: Time use in Russian Baby Homes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated time use of Russian children residing in Baby Homes to document their opportunities and experiences during institutional care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time use of 138 non-special needs, randomly selected children (65 female vs. 73 male, age 1 month to 4 years) in Baby Homes in Murmansk, Russia, was analysed. Baby Home specialists were trained in time-use spot observation methodology. Each child was observed every 10 min for 5 h (31 observations/child; >4000 data points). At each observation, we coded: who the child was with, adult role, what the child was doing, location and vocalizations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children spent 50% of their time alone, 27% with a caregiver, 15% with another adult, and 7% with another child. Infants spent significantly more time alone (65%) than toddlers (43%) or pre-schoolers (46%) [F(2,133) = 13.05, P < 0.0001]. Caregivers supervised children (58%), led group activities (16%), cared for individuals (14%), or were absent from the room (12%). Children spent the most time (32%) in activities of daily living; remaining time was spent in meaningful play (27%), non-purposeful activity (16%) or sleep (18%). The percentage of time spent in meaningful play significantly increased across age groups [infants 10%, toddlers 25%, pre-schoolers 36%, F(2,133) = 26.9, P < 0.001]. Infants (23%) and toddlers (20%) spent significantly more time than the older group (10%) in non-purposeful activity [F(2,133) = 26.9, P < 0.001]. In 12% of observations, an adult was speaking to the child, in 10% to the group, and <1% to another adult. Child vocalizations varied by age: infants 42% of observations, toddlers 56%, and pre-schoolers 59%. Older children directed more vocalizations to adults than younger children [F(2,133) = 24.47, P < 0.001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Time use of children residing in Baby Homes is limited by routinized schedules and care, at the expense of child-directed or interactive play with adults. Despite close proximity and living in group care, children's vocalizations and interactions with others are limited.
authors.affiliation: International Adoption Clinic, New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. ltirella@tufts-nemc.org
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Tirella
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cermak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Litvinova
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D002654:Child Care / Q000592:standards*; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D002669:Child Welfare; D002674:Child, Institutionalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012426:Russia; D013997:Time Factors