In every case, the recording of positive interaction but at
the same time the recording of detached and permissive
attitudes, especially in preschool classrooms, raises questions
about the way early childhood educators interact with
children and the effects of that kind of interaction on
children’s overall development. According to Ghazvini and
Mullis (2002) a warm, caring relationship between a
caregiver and a young child is a highly valued aspect of
child care. Caregiver behaviours that are sensitive and that
are not punitive or detached foster this relationship. Since
during our observation we recorded relatively high percentages
of permissiveness and detachment, we could
argue that caregiver—children interaction is vestigial.
Thus, as Mantziou (2000) has urged those results may
dispute the positive interaction recorded, which has been
characterised as ‘‘seeming’’ (p. 156).