Childcare roles

It is traditional in western society for children to be looked after by one or both of their parents, but the need, or preference, for two-job households means that childcare is delegated to childminders or crèches on a full-time (40hrs) or part-time (< 40hrs) basis.

Most Western countries also have compulsory education during which children are at school starting from 5- or 6-years of age. The school will act in loco parentis meaning "in lieu of parent supervision".

Where parents are missing, dead, unable or unfit to care for children, state agencies such as social services may take on the childcare role.

Another option, that may be more intimate and often keeps children in their own home setting is through the use of nannies or an au pair. Additionally, parents may opt to have their own family members watch their children.

In the United States, childcare in regulated commercial or family childcare home setting is administered or lead by teachers who may have a Child Development Associate or higher credentials.

The challenge of childcare

The challenge of childcare

In many families (and almost exclusively so in some communities), the childcare role is taken on by the extended family. One of the challenges for parents who choose to use other sources of childcare is finding and affording qualified providers.

Some jurisdictions require licensing or certification. Parents may also turn to independent rating services, or rely on recommendations and referrals. Some places develop voluntary quality networks, for example in Australia most childcare services are part of the national Quality Assurance system which ensures they provide good developmental programs.

Many organizations (in the developed world) campaign for free or subsidized childcare for all. Others campaign for tax breaks or allowances to allow parents a non-finance driven choice. Many of the free or subsidized childcare programs in the United States are also Child Development programs, or after school programs which hire certified teachers to teach the children while they are in their care.

Most countries have laws relating to childcare, which seek to prevent and punish child abuse. Such laws may add cost and complexity to childcare provision and may provide tools to help ensure quality childcare.


Finding childcare providers online

The Internet has become a tool for parents and childcare providers to connect.

Online classified ads allow parents to post job offers and childcare providers to post resumes in hopes of connecting with each other via cyberspace. Such postings allow anyone to post almost anything at any time with little monitoring. Services dedicated to matching parents and childcare providers have evolved from for-profit, nonprofit and governmental organizations. Such services generally offer greater screening, than general listing services.

See also
Babysitting
Day care
Wood kindergarten

Notes
^ Both childcare and child care are common, acceptable spelling of the word. Child care is the preferred spelling in accordance with AP Style.
^ 2006, Rush, The Australia Institute http://www.tai.org.au/documents/downloads/DP84.pdf

External links
Childcare at the Open Directory Project
Better Business Bureau Video Series or free online childcare resources at www.BBBvideo.com
Child Care Quality: An Overview for Parents - From the ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education.
Information and Child Care resources from the United Kingdom's National Institute of Childcare and Education

Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since August 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since March 2007 | Articles needing additional references from April 2007 | Child care
Article Discussion Edit this page History
The childcare debate

For many, the use of paid childcare is a matter of choice with arguments raging on both sides about whether children suffer or not.

There is no doubt that the first few years of a child's life are vitally important to form a basis for good education, morality, self-discipline and social integration.[citation needed] Consistency of approach, skills and qualifications of careers and ownership have been shown in many studies to improve the chances of a child reaching his or her full potential.

For example a recent study in Australia[2] concluded centers run by corporate chains provided the lowest quality care when compared to community-based providers and independent private centres.