Child Care Arrangements Research Articles

Child care usage among families with young children staying in homeless shelters

Families living in homeless shelters with young children (birth-36 months) face a variety of complex challenges which make it difficult to locate and maintain child care enrollment. Although the inequitable access to child care for families in shelter has been documented, little is known about the factors that predict child care usage among families experiencing homelessness. This investigation utilized interviews of 150 parents with children ages birth-36 months residing in nine different homeless shelters to identify: how many families used center-based care, how many families relied only on parental care, and what other types of nonparental child care arrangements families utilized. Next, we investigated whether usage of center-based child care was associated with child and family characteristics of race/ethnicity, unemployment, time spent in shelter, reasons for seeking shelter, and parent depression symptoms. Data for this study came from three data collection efforts considering risk and resilience factors among families with infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness. Parents in this study reported using nonparental child care at lower rates than the general population. Employed parents were more likely to use center-based child care, and families who reported their child's race/ethnicity as Black or African American were less likely to report using center-based child care. Findings have implications for policy considerations necessary to support the use of center-based child care among families living in homeless shelters.

When the Burden Lifts: The Effect of School and Day Care Reopenings on Parents’ Life Satisfaction

AbstractThe availability of childcare services eases parents’ daily lives and research has shown that it positively affects well-being, especially for mothers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted established childcare arrangements, with school and day care closures adding to parental burdens. Despite extensive discourse on the influence of these closures on parental well-being, few studies have empirically analysed the effects of the increase in childcare responsibilities associated with the closures on the well-being of parents. We seek to address this gap by examining the impact of school and day care reopenings on parental well-being. We expect that parents’ life satisfaction will increase when schools and day care facilities are reopened—and that this effect is particularly strong for mothers. Leveraging the variation in the time of reopenings across Germany’s federal states, we employ a difference-in-differences and a difference-in-difference-in-differences approach to assess changes in well-being. The research design accounts for state-level differences and potential confounding factors related to the pandemic. By using data from the German IAB-HOPP study, which offers timely measures of life satisfaction, we aim to quantify the effects of reopenings on parental well-being. Results show only a small and marginally positive effect of reopenings on average life satisfaction among parents. However, this is due to a strong and significant effect of reopenings on mothers’ life satisfaction and no significant effect for fathers. Our findings contribute to research on the division of unpaid labour and childcare and support the notion that public childcare provision is crucial, particularly for mothers’ life satisfaction.

Understanding the roles and challenges of child protection employees in out-of-home care arrangements for children of minority and immigrant backgrounds in Rogaland, Norway

ABSTRACT The study was designed to understand the roles and challenges of child protection services (CPS) employees in arranging out-of-home care for children with minority and immigrant backgrounds in Rogaland, Norway. Findings from the six in-depth interviews with CPS employees showed that, guided by existing laws and policies, they follow three phases from investigation to the care order decision. The premium they place on “best-interests-of-children” can be contested in relation to the rights of the family. CPS employees day-to-day challenges include understanding minority families cultural backgrounds, finding foster families, and communication. Based on the findings, policy and practice recommendations are made.

Paternal incarceration, child care instability, and children's wellbeing

AbstractObjectiveThis study examines the relationship between paternal incarceration, child care instability, and children's well‐being.BackgroundDespite the established repercussions of paternal incarceration for children and families, little is known about how paternal incarceration is associated with child care arrangements and how unstable child care arrangements moderate the deleterious consequences of paternal incarceration for children's well‐being.MethodsWe use data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a cohort of urban children born around the turn of the 21st century, to examine the relationship between recent first‐time paternal incarceration and child care instability (measured by long‐term instability, multiplicity, and back‐up care arrangements). We also examine how child care instability moderates the relationship between recent first‐time paternal incarceration and children's problem behaviors.ResultsAnalyses suggest three main findings. First, paternal incarceration is positively associated with long‐term child care instability, net of prior instability and factors associated with selection into paternal incarceration. Paternal incarceration is not associated with multiplicity or back‐up care. Second, the relationship between paternal incarceration and children's problem behaviors is larger among children with unstable care arrangements than among those with stable care arrangements. Third, children living with their father prior to his incarceration, compared to children not living with their father prior to his incarceration, experience larger consequences of paternal incarceration.ConclusionWe document the relationship between paternal incarceration and child care instability and how this instability moderates the association between paternal incarceration and children's problem behaviors.

A Study To Investigate The Influence Of Childcare Arrangements On Parental Stress Levels Among Working Mothers In General Duty And Shift Duty Roles

Background: The increasing participation of women in the workforce has heightened the challenges working mothers face in balancing professional and parental responsibilities. Childcare arrangements significantly influence the stress levels of these mothers, especially for those working in general and shift duty roles. Understanding the impact of various childcare options is crucial to formulating supportive policies that improve the well-being of working mothers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 60 working mothers (30 in general duty and 30 in shift duty) with children under 10 years in Dispur community, Guwahati. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was employed. Data were collected using a standardized parental stress scale and analyzed through descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and Chi-square tests. Results: The findings revealed that working mothers who relied on family members for childcare experienced the lowest stress levels (mean score 35.4), while those using part-time nannies experienced the highest stress levels (mean score 74.6). Significant associations were found between parental stress levels and factors such as childcare arrangements, age, number of children, and job satisfaction. Conclusion: The type of childcare arrangements significantly impacts the stress levels of working mothers. Policies aimed at enhancing the availability and reliability of childcare options could alleviate stress and improve the quality of life for working mothers, particularly in shift duty roles.

Child care for young children with disabilities.

More than half (56%) of Canadian children aged 0 to 5 years are in non-parental child care, but data on child care attendance among children with disabilities is limited. This study examines child care participation among young children with disabilities in Canada, with a focus on different disability types. Analyses were conducted on 1,189 children aged 0 to 5 years identified with disabilities from Statistics Canada's 2023 Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements - Children with Long-term Conditions and Disabilities. Rates of child care participation, difficulties finding child care, difficulties within child care, and whether parents reported that their child had ever been denied a child care space because of their condition were examined. Logistic regression models tested for differences in the main child care arrangement and difficulty finding child care based on the child's disability while controlling for sociodemographic variables. Among children aged 0 to 5 years with disabilities, 45% attended a daycare centre, preschool, centre de la petite enfance, or before or after school care as their main child care arrangement; 17% attended another type of child care, such as a family child care home or care by a relative; and 38% did not regularly attend non-parental child care. The parents of nearly half of children with disabilities reported difficulty finding a child care arrangement, particularly for children with emotional conditions. Close to 1 in 10 parents of children with disabilities who were using child care reported that their child had been denied a child care space because of their condition. These findings highlight the need for information to support inclusive policies, practices, and resources for children with disabilities within the Canada-wide early learning and child care system.

Rational or emotional decisions? Parents’ nonstandard work hours and the justifications for using informal childcare

ABSTRACT This study examined whether the number of weekly childcare arrangements for under-school-aged children is associated with parental nonstandard hours (e.g. evenings, nights, or irregular schedules) and the reasons and justifications parents working nonstandard hours give for using informal care arrangements. Using cross-sectional survey data of 359 Finnish parents with children aged 0–6 years, we found that nonstandard work hours, compared with standard daytime hours, were associated with a higher number of weekly care arrangements for children under 5 years old. Qualitative parental interviews (N = 27) further revealed three justifications for using informal care: ‘Leaning on parents’ values and desires’, ‘Disclaiming from actions potentially harming the child’, and ‘Balancing parents’ needs and the moral aspects of using informal childcare’. Our findings highlight that parents of young children tend to rely on multiple childcare arrangements during nonstandard work hours even in a country with a comprehensive institutional early childhood education and care (ECEC) infrastructure and affordable tax-based provision of around-the-clock care (i.e. extended hours ECEC). Furthermore, emotional-based reasons related to ensuring child well-being were emphasised over rational-based ones when parents provided justifications for using informal arrangements during nonstandard hours.

Examining the Stability and Durability of Child Care Arrangements during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada

La pandémie de COVID-19 a provoqué d'importantes perturbations dans tous les secteurs du travail et de la vie familiale, y compris les services de garde éducatifs à l'enfance (SGÉE). Les recherches démontrent que l'instabilité (soit les interruptions aux services de garde) et l'absence de durabilité des SGÉE (soit le maintien des mêmes services de garde au fil du temps) peuvent exacerber le stress des parents et nuire au développement de l'enfant. S'inspirant des données d'un sondage original réalisé en décembre 2020 auprès de 882 parents de jeunes enfants de quatre provinces canadiennes, les autrices ont examiné les choix des parents au sujet de la garde d'enfants avant la pandémie et les répercussions de la COVID-19 sur ces dispositions, dans l'immédiat et à long terme. Dans leur échantillon, elles ont trouvé que a) les services hors du domicile étaient plus instables et plutôt moins durables que ceux à domicile; b) la perte d'accès pendant la pandémie à cause de la fermeture des centres de la petite enfance était moins marquée en Colombie-Britannique, ce qui était toutefois contrebalancé par un taux relativement élevé de retraits volontaires; c) l'Ontario a présenté un taux relativement élevé de pertes d'accès en raison des fermetures et des retraits volontaires; d) dans l'ensemble, 64 % des dispositions en matière de garde se sont révélées durables, mais e) la durabilité était plus faible dans les familles à plus faible revenu et en Ontario. En revanche, la durabilité était beaucoup plus élevée au Québec, ce qui fait ressortir le rôle possible des investissements dans les politiques des SGÉE pour protéger les parents et les enfants en cas d’événements déstabilisants.

Early childcare arrangements and children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms: an individual participant data meta-analysis of six prospective birth cohorts in Europe

Early childcare attendance may be related to children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms throughout childhood and young adolescence, however evidence from Europe is limited. We aimed to assess this association across multiple population-based birth cohorts of children recruited in different European countries. Data come from six parent-offspring prospective birth cohort studies across five European countries within the EU Child Cohort Network. A total of 87,208 parent-child dyads were included in the study. To test associations between childcare attendance (centre-based or informal) anytime between ages 0 and 4 years and children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms in middle childhood and young adolescence (measured at: 5-6 years, 7-9 years, and 10-13 years) a two-stage individual participant data meta-analysis was implemented. Linear regression models were performed in each cohort separately; combined random-effects meta-analysis was then used to obtain overall association estimates. In secondary analyses, we tested interactions between childcare attendance and mother's post-partum depression, low education status, and the child's sex. Compared to children who were exclusively cared for by their parents prior to school entry, those who attended centre-based childcare had lower levels of internalizing symptoms in all age groups [5-6 years: β:-1.78 (95% CI:-3.39,-0.16); 7-9 years: β:-0.55 (95% CI:-0.88,-0.73); 10-13 years: β:-0.76 (95% CI:-1.15,-0.37)]. Children who attended informal childcare appeared to have elevated levels of internalizing symptoms between 7-9 and 10-13 years, respectively [β: 1.65 (95% CI: 1.25, 2.06); β: 1.25 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.54)]. Informal childcare attendance was also associated with increased levels of children's externalizing symptoms between 7-9 and 10-13 years, respectively [β: 2.84 (95% CI: 1.41, 4.26); β: 2.19 (95% CI: 0.54, 3.84)]. Early centre-based childcare is associated with decreased levels of children's internalizing symptoms compared to exclusive parental care. For informal childcare, opposite associations were observed. Overall, our results suggest that centre-based childcare attendance may be associated with slight positive impacts on children's emotional development and should be encouraged by public policies. In addition, children from socioeconomically disadvantaged families require special attention, as they may not sufficiently benefit from universal early childhood education and care (ECEC). This research was funded by the ERC Consolidator grant RESEDA (Horizon Europe, 101001420).

Childcare use and the social-emotional and behavioural outcomes of late-preterm and early-term born children at age 5: An analysis of the All Our Families longitudinal cohort.

Gestational age at birth (GA) shows an inverse gradient of risk with social-emotional and behavioural outcomes among children born late preterm (≥ 34 and < 37weeks) and early term (≥ 37 and < 39weeks). Childcare has the potential to influence this association. This study aimed to estimate the association between GA and social-emotional/behavioural problems among children born between ≥ 34 and < 41weeks gestation, determine whether this association was modified by childcare use, and describe the relationship between childcare and behavioural and social-emotional functioning at age 5. Using data from the All Our Families cohort (n = 1324), logistic regression models were used to model the association between GA and social-emotional/behavioural problems (BASC-2 composite scales at age 5). Models were fit with interaction terms between GA and childcare variables (amount, multiplicity, and type of childcare at age 3) to assess effect modification. GA showed no significant associations with social-emotional/behavioural problems at age 5, though the type of childcare significantly modified the association between GA and externalizing and internalizing problems. Neither the number of hours spent in childcare (amount) nor the number of childcare arrangements used (multiplicity) modified the association between GA and social-emotional/behavioural problems. However, multiplicity was associated with externalizing behavioural problems (aOR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.14‒3.83). This study found no significant association between GA and social-emotional/behavioural problems at age 5, though childcare type modified this association. Factors such as using multiple childcare arrangements to meet families' childcare needs have the potential to influence a child's social-emotional and behavioural functioning at age 5.

Collectivist Relationality and Individualistic Relationality: Pacific Mothers and Fathers Negotiating Agency and Identity in Post–Separation Care Arrangements for Children

The degree to which agency and identity are experienced as individualised or relational constructs have been widely debated in the sociological literature. Yet, at the centre of these debates are Western notions and understandings of individualisation and relationality, including in family research. They have relied on individualised and nuclearised understandings and approaches to being a family that more closely approximate the lives of white Western middle-class nuclear families. Drawing on semi-structured talanoa (akin to interviews) with separated heterosexual Pacific parents, specifically ten mothers and five fathers, living in New Zealand, I contribute to individualisation and relationality debates by examining how agency and identity are enacted following separation. In particular, I examine the way that Pacific mothers and fathers grapple with tenets of individualisation and relationality in terms of how and with whom they organise and negotiate care arrangements for children. My research demonstrates how Pacific gendered norms and values operated in ways that differentially shaped the kinds of decisions that mothers and fathers made about children’s care arrangements. I conclude with a discussion that highlights the significance of integrating cultural relationality into research on family life.

Crowded‐out? Changes in informal childcare during the expansion of formal services in Germany

AbstractInformal childcare care by grandparents, other relatives or friends is an important source of support in many Western countries, including Germany. Yet the role of this type of care is often overlooked in accounts of social policies supporting families with children, which tend to focus on formal childcare. This article examines whether the large formal childcare expansion occurring in Germany in the last two decades has been accompanied by similar or opposite trends in informal childcare usage. It argues that accounting for both formal and informal childcare can offer a more accurate assessment of defamilisation effects of family policies. Drawing on representative data from the German Socio‐Economic Panel the analysis identifies long‐run developments of childcare arrangements for children aged 1–10 between 1997 and 2020, offering for the first time a comprehensive picture of how families with children of different ages mix informal care and service provision. Results show that on average the expansion of formal childcare was not associated with an equal reduction in informal childcare, lending little support to the crowding‐out hypothesis. Further analyses distinguishing between population groups with different propensity to use formal childcare reveal, unexpectedly, remarkable similarities in the use of informal care throughout the period examined. The only exception are families with a migrant background, who tend to use informal childcare less than their counterparts. The general trend is, however, one whereby informal and formal care are increasingly combined.

Exploring alternative care options for children in China: recent developments and challenges

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the complexities surrounding alternative care arrangements for children, especially within China’s changing childcare landscape. This paper addresses the gap in understanding the nuances of alternative care options in China by conducting a narrative review of existing literature and governmental documents, focusing specifically on kinship care, institutional care, family foster care, and adoption. The review reveals recent developments and current challenges associated with each form of alternative care, providing insights into the evolving childcare system in China. Key findings include significant progress in diversifying childcare options, increased funding investment in the system, and efforts to standardize alternative childcare practices through policies and legislative measures. However, challenges persist in promoting psychosocial development and preparing individuals living in institutions for leaving care, ensuring adequate resources and support for kinship caregivers, and enhancing participation rates in family foster care and adoption practices. Practical implications for policymakers and child welfare agencies are discussed, emphasizing the importance of promoting family-based care options, providing quality caregiver training, considering various aspects of children’s needs, extending support for kinship care, and formulating inclusive adoption policies.

Childcare disruptions and maternal health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all US states enacted stay-at-home orders, upending usual childcare arrangements and providing a unique opportunity to study the association between childcare disruptions and maternal health. Using data from the 2021-2022 National Survey of Children's Health, we estimated the association between childcare disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and self-reported mental and physical health among female parents of young children (ages 0-5 years). Further, we assessed racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in (1) the prevalence of childcare disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) the association between childcare disruptions and mental or physical health. Female parents who experienced childcare disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic were less likely to report excellent or very good mental (-7.4 percentage points) or physical (-2.5 percentage points) health. Further, childcare disruptions were more common among parents with greater socioeconomic privilege (ie, higher education, higher income), but may have been more detrimental to health among parents with less socioeconomic privilege (eg, lower education, lower income, and single parents). As state and federal policymakers take action to address the maternal health crisis in the United States, our findings suggest that measures to improve childcare stability may also promote maternal health and health equity.

Burnout in Urological Education: An In-Depth Study of Residents and Fellows in the 2021 AUA Census.

Our goal was to explore the current trends in burnout, career choice regret, and well-being needs among urology residents and fellows, with specific emphasis on identifying key factors associated with burnout. The AUA Workforce Workgroup collaborated with the AUA Data Team to analyze data from the 2021 AUA Census, comprising a total of 243 residents and fellows. Key demographics, benefits and resources, career choice and debt, and burnout levels were analyzed, focusing on variables like gender, PGY (postgraduate year) level, debt burden, and personal health appointments. Overall, 48% of residents and 33% of fellows met criteria for professional burnout, with a higher incidence among PGY-2 residents (70%). Depersonalization was particularly notable, with 74% of residents reporting medium to high levels. Burnout was significantly associated with difficulty attending personal health appointments (52% vs 34%) and lack of access to on-call rooms (54% vs 36%). In contrast, having children during residency was associated with lower burnout levels (30.8% vs 49.1%). Meal plans were ranked as the most desired benefit (32%), followed by ability to attend health appointments during work hours (17%) and paid family leave (16%). Educational debt over $150,000 was carried by 53% of residents and 48% of fellows. Interestingly, burnout rates showed no statistically significant difference in response rates across genders, relationship status, amount of educational debt, presence of paid maternity or paternity leave, and type of childcare arrangements. Burnout remains a significant issue among urology trainees, with a complex interplay of factors like lack of personal time and provision of call rooms. The alarming rates of depersonalization and exhaustion highlight the urgency of implementing targeted interventions. Enhanced support systems, improved access to health care appointments, provision of call rooms, and debt management programs are recommended to alleviate the growing problem of professional burnout in the field of urology.

A Case of Sticky Gender? Persistence and Change in the Division of Household Labor during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Contemporary research finds that gender continues to provide an organizing framework for couples’ allocation of household labor. To explain this outcome, scholars focus on how structural arrangements and cultural beliefs contribute to the persistence of gender inequality in domestic labor. Yet scholarship has yet to fully clarify what combination of cultural and structural factors create persistent gender inequality in household labor. We use the COVID-19 pandemic as a naturally occurring event in which arrangements for childcare and work were upended, making it possible for many to rethink their household arrangements. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 81 respondents in heterosexual dual-earner couples, we examine how change in structural arrangements allowed some couples to develop a more egalitarian division of domestic labor. We also examine why an unequal division of labor persisted for most couples even amid the dramatic changes in their work and childcare arrangements and, for some, a strong desire to do so. We theorize that, taken alone, neither cultural attitudes nor shifts in the organization of work are sufficient to remove the stickiness of gender inequality in household work. Instead, structural change offers the possibility to change behavior, but only if cultural beliefs exist that make such change desirable.

Alloparental Support and Infant Psychomotor Developmental Delay

Receiving social support from community and extended family has been typical for mothers with infants in human societies past and present. In non-industrialised contexts, infants of mothers with extended family support often have better health and higher survival through the vulnerable infant period, and hence shared infant care has a clear fitness benefit. However, there is scant evidence that these benefits continue in industrialised contexts. Better infant health and development with allocare support would indicate continued evolutionary selection for allocare. The research reported here used multiple logistic regression analysis to test whether a lack of family and other social support for mothers was associated with an increased risk of developmental delay in 9-month-old infants in the UK Millennium Cohort (analysis sample size, 15,696 infants). Extended family-based childcare during work hours and more maternal time spent with friends were the most influential kin and social support variables: infants of mothers with kin-based childcare versus all other childcare arrangements had a lower risk of developmental delay (OR = 0.61, 95% CIs: 0.46–0.82). Infants of mothers who spent no time with friends when compared with those who saw friends every day had double the odds of delay. Greater paternal involvement in infant care was associated with a lower odds of developmental delay. In conclusion, shared care of infants and social support for mothers may influence fitness-related traits in industrialised societies rather than being factors that influenced selection only in the past and in societies which retain close kin networks and a strong local community focus.

‘Leaving the child behind was not easy’: lived experiences of mothers returning to work after maternity leave in Ghana

ABSTRACT This study explored the lived experiences of employed mothers returning to work after maternity leave in the Ghanaian context. Using a qualitative research approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 employed postpartum mothers who had returned to work within one year after birth. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four themes were generated that speak to mothers’ experiences of returning to work after maternity leave: setting the stage for work return, embracing the emotions of work return, re-adapting to the workplace, and impact on personal and family health. Mothers’ return to work after maternity leave was preceded by extensive physical and psychological preparations including childcare arrangements that enhanced their readiness for paid work. Despite such preparations, most mothers experienced their return to work as emotionally challenging marked by feelings of sadness, guilt, and frustration. Childbirth and return to work also negatively impacted mothers’ work performance as well as their personal and family wellbeing. Moreover, combining the increased responsibilities associated with childbirth and work demands emerged as a major source of stress for postpartum mothers. These findings underscore the need for policies, organisational practices, and comprehensive support structures that facilitate mothers’ return to work after maternity leave.

Impossible arrangements: The extreme challenge of child care for low‐income mothers

AbstractArranging safe and secure child care is necessary for parents of dependent children to maintain their participation in the labor force. This article uncovered the extreme version of work–childcare conflict faced by low‐income mothers. The constant, underlying threat of the loss of income and unsafe conditions for children influences child care and work, hindering their ability to move out of poverty even when employed. This qualitative study uses interview and focus group data collected from low‐income mothers in Colorado, Georgia, and Massachusetts from 2009 to 2020 to explore the obstacles as well as the strategies for finding and keeping child care. The data are the mother's voices as they describe their experiences negotiating care arrangements while working or looking for work. Factors that contributed to this extreme version of work–childcare conflict included: difficult conditions at work and mixed experience relying on care from family and friends. Also uncovered were problems affording paid care and utilizing public vouchers, which may undermine assistance programs. Child care from schools, family, and public programs were greatly diminished during the Covid‐19 pandemic, further exacerbating work–childcare conflict for low‐income mothers. Policy implications and the effects of the pandemic on childcare arrangements were also considered.

Exploring parents’ child care search and decision-making processes

Searching for child care is an important stageof the parental child care decision-making process. Although previous studies have identified a series of factors related to parents’ child care decision-making, little is known about parents’ child care search processes. Using the 2012 National Survey of Early Careand Education (NSECE) dataset, this study aims to identify family and community characteristics related to parents’ child care search behaviors and their final care choices. The study examined the search strategies of parents of preschoolers (36–60 months), including the type of programs that parents consider, the number of options that parents consider, and the sources of information they consult in the process of making child care decisions. Results showed that 43 % of parents only considered one option during their child care search. The type of child care considered, and the source of information parents used during their child care search were significantly related to their final choices. As many states are currently developing the consumer education program to help parents select child care arrangement, the findings from this study have direct implications for policy and practices.