The need for child care has become a daily fact of life for many parents. Sixty-four percent of mothers with children under age six, and 78 percent of mothers with children ages six to 13 are in the labor force. This is 3 out of 5 young children. 5 Children enter care as early as six weeks of age and can be in care for as many as 40 hours per week until they reach school age.
Child care helps shape children's futures and is key to school readiness.
The research is clear that the quality of child care has a lasting impact on children's well-being and ability to learn. 7 Children in poor quality child care have been found to be delayed in language and reading skills, and display more aggression toward other children and adults. A recent major study found that children in high quality child care demonstrated greater mathematical ability, greater thinking and attention skills, and fewer behavioral problems than children in lower quality care. These differences held true for children from a range of family backgrounds, with particularly significant effects for children at risk. 9 School-age children's academic performance is enhanced by attending formal child care programs of at least adequate quality, according to several studies.