This investigation aimed at understanding and analyzing the representations of the workers from daycare centers regarding the care they provide to children. Data were collected through individual interviews and an educational workshop. These interviews were carried out in daycare centers, that are associated to a public university in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil. The topic presented here, Childcare in daycare centers, is the first result of this study. The care was defined as actions taken to attend to the child's physical and emotional necessities, a preliminary step to pedagogical activities and as a learning moment for children. The workers understand the care as a phenomenon that do not need specific training or preparation as it is secondary if compared to education. This common sense understanding can be a result of the lack of reflection about a theoretical and conceptual reference that must base the performance of these workers.
child daycare centers; child care; child education; child welfare