Reasons for Child Care Choice and Appraisal Among Low-Income Mothers

Abstract

This article examines what low-income mothers report as important in selecting child care. Reasons for choosing child care were measured using open-ended questions and a checklist in a sample of 1,001 mothers receiving child care subsidies. Structural characteristics of care, child safety, and caregiver characteristics were found to be the most frequently cited reasons for the selection of a child care provider. Nearly all mothers reported being highly satisfied with their current child care. The lack of a working knowledge of child care quality is proposed as an obstacle to children being placed in high quality child care settings.