Child Care and Health in America
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    Childcare and Health in America

    Research Oct-16-2016 | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health | 1-min read
    1. Insights
    2. Our Research
    3. Parents Need Flexible and Affordable Child Care
    Download Report Read News release

    Parents value and seek quality childcare but overestimate the care their child receives, at odds with how experts rate childcare in the United States.

    The Issue

    Early childhood is a critical time for children’s brains and bodies to develop in a healthy way and childcare plays and important role in that. Yet, according to a new poll, parents face challenges in accessing quality, affordable childcare. And, even more troublesome, a gap exists between what parents and experts believe is the quality of childcare provided.

     

    Key Findings


     

    • Quality—Most parents (59%) rate the quality of their child’s care as excellent, even though experts say the majority of childcare in the United States is not high quality, with only 10 percent very high quality.
    • Cost and convenience—Cost is a common challenge for parents to find care (27% said it was) and even after they do find it, it is a financial burden for many (31%). Finding backup care for a sick child challenges working parents who report that they miss work (75%), loose pay (12%), or have negative repercussions from their employer (10%).
    • Limited options—For many parents, childcare options are limited (67%) but more so for families with not strong finances (79%) than those with strong ones (63%).
    • Lasting effects—Most parents feel childcare positively impacts their child’s long-term wellbeing (86%) and job success in later life (52%). Mothers say it has a positive effect on their wellbeing (62%) and their relationship with their child (58%).

     

    Conclusion

    National standards for rating childcare could provide better information for parents on the quality of childcare. That, along with more affordable, high-quality childcare options would benefit all U.S. children and their families.

    About the Study

    The poll was developed by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and NPR. Telephone interviews were conducted in the summer of 2016.

    Related Content

    Nariya Farrington and classmate eating a healthy snack at school. Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

    Parents Need Flexible and Affordable Child Care

    Child care plays a critical role during the formative years and is key to familial stability. 

    Read the Blog
    Child Care and Health in America Webinar

    Experts address issues with perception of child care quality

    On October 18, 2016, an online Forum at Harvard School of Public Health brought together a panel of experts to discuss parents’ priorities and perceptions about their children’s care and how they square up against expert assessments of child care quality. 

    Watch the webcast
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