Most communities are not keeping up with the increase in demand. Theoretically, parents have their choice of programs in a diverse, competitive child-care marketplace, but many parents say that they have to settle for care that does not suit their schedules, needs, or values. These arrangements may work well, but they often represent the family's only available option. It is often assumed that when all else fails, low-income parents can leave their children with a friend or relative, but in fact, many families lack this kind of support. Arranging child care is even harder when parents work evenings and weekends.
Nontraditional schedules affect the lives of millions of families.
It is sometimes assumed that working mothers prefer to work nights or weekends, but in fact, relatively few choose nontraditional hours. Unpredictable or erratic schedules make it particularly difficult to arrange stable child care. Almost half of working-poor parents work on rotating or changing shifts. The majority of those who do provide care during nontraditional hours work out of their homes and have room for relatively few children. Weekend work is also problematic.