It’s Quiz time
Who’s Rearing our Kids?
As the cost of living increases, parents have to make challenging decisions about whether they will work outside the home and put their children in formal childcare, or find a way to meet budgetary constraints and stay home with their children. Parents are often forced to choose who they will trust to care for their children through delicate and essential years.
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Results
#1. In the United States, how many working parents want, but don’t have access to, formal childcare?
Formal childcare is defined as a paid for professional, structured service, legally licensed and outside of the child’s home. According to a survey conducted in 2022, one out of every three children (33%) are not able to access formal childcare.
#2. Which of the following is a barrier cited by parents as to why they are unable to access formal childcare?
The barriers for formal childcare are high. Not only are parents wary of the price tag associated with formal childcare, but they also find it difficult to find trusted care outside of their family and friend group.
#3. Which of the following is the most relied upon solution parents use if they cannot access formal childcare?
According to a survey done in 2022, 68% of parents relying on informal childcare find a way for one of the parents to care for their children. Grandparents and other relatives make up 25% of informal care. The majority of parents surveyed (93%) said that they were happy with the informal childcare arrangements they had.
#4. Which of the following characteristics is most important to parents when they are making decisions regarding childcare?
The most important characteristics parents take into account when making childcare related decisions is safety for the child.
#5. True/False: If the government subsidized formal childcare, the majority of parents currently using informal childcare methods would switch to formal childcare methods.
Even if the government subsidized formal childcare, and if there were childcare locations close by, 57% of parents surveyed said they would prefer their children be taken care of through informal childcare (either by themselves, family members or close friends). They value trust and safety for their children over expenses and convenience.
#6. Bonus Question from Last Time: Which of the following are reasons young Singaporeans list for not having a family? (Select all that apply)
Select all that apply:
Indranee Raja from the Prime Minister’s office of Singapore said that a “marriage and parenthood reset” is needed to combat the falling population” and then described what a reset like that would change: “first how marriage and family are viewed and supported; second, how workplaces can evolve to better align work and family; and third, how everyone can play their part.”