Parents also talk about not being able to find quality child care that they can afford. This is a problem for all of us. The lack of quality child care that is affordable to working parents prevents children from entering school ready to learn. It hinders their success in school, and limits the ability of their parents to be productive workers. And the lack of quality afterschool options leaves our children vulnerable to violence, crime and substance abuse.
All parents are satisfied with their children's care.
Ask American parents about child care and they will tell you they wish they could do better for their children but cannot because the costs are too high, the quality they are looking for does not exist, or the demands of their work schedules limit their choices. In national, state and local polls, as well as in more in-depth interviews, parents express deep concerns about the quality of their children's care and a strong desire for better alternatives. One of four say their child's care is not as good as they would like it to be. The quality of child care doesn't have much impact on a child's development. Parents know that the person that cares for their child 40 or so hours a week makes a difference in their child's life and well being.