However, child care can be physically and emotionally taxing, as workers constantly stand, walk, bend, stoop, and lift to attend to each child' s interests and problems. To ensure that children receive proper supervision, State or local regulations may require certain ratios of workers to children. The ratio varies with the age of the children. The working hours of preschool teachers and child-care workers vary widely. Child care centers are usually open year round with long hours so that parents can drop off and pick up their children before and after work.
Some workers are unable to take regular breaks during the day due to limited staffing.
Preschool teachers may work extra unpaid hours each week on curriculum planning, parent meetings, and occasional fundraising activities. Family child-care providers have flexible hours and daily routines, but may work long or unusual hours to fit parents' work schedules. Turnover in this occupation is high. Many preschool teachers and child-care workers leave the occupation temporarily to fulfill family responsibilities, study, or for other reasons. Some workers leave permanently because they are interested in pursuing another occupation or because of dissatisfaction with long hours, low pay and benefits, and stressful conditions.