History of Child care in Timeline

Child care, or day care, involves supervising children, usually from three months to 18 years old, by someone other than the parents. It's a broad concept encompassing various caregivers, institutions, settings, activities, and social norms. Crucially, early child care plays a vital, yet often underestimated, role in a child's overall development.

1969: Lack of Cross-Cultural Work Reference

In 1969, according to Thomas S. Weisner and Ronald G. Gallimore, there had been no cross-cultural work reference to caretaking of children by anyone other than parents published in The Handbook of Socialization Theory and Research.

1971: Comprehensive Child Development Act Vetoed

In 1971, the Comprehensive Child Development Act, which would have created nationally funded child care centers, was passed by Congress but vetoed by President Richard Nixon.

1977: Weisner and Gallimore Article

In 1977, Thomas S. Weisner and Ronald G. Gallimore reported on their study of over a hundred countries. They found that in agricultural/horticultural societies where work is done to provide sustenance for the community, siblings and similar-aged children are responsible for younger children.

1990: Child Care and Development Block Grant Act Enacted

In 1990, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act was enacted as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, establishing dedicated federal funding for child care subsidies to support low-income families.

1995: Most Families Rely on Relatives for Childcare

According to the 1995 U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), over 36% of families of preschoolers with working mothers primarily relied on childcare in the home of a relative, family daycare provider or other non-relative.

1996: The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 Passed

In 1996, the 104th Congress passed The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), consolidating three federal child care programs previously serving low-income families under the program formerly known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

1997: WHO Conducts Child Growth Study

Since 1997, the WHO has conducted an extensive study of six developing nations to develop new standards for measuring and monitoring child growth. These standards, known as the New WHO Child Growth Standard, measure the physical growth, nutritional status, and motor development of children from birth to 5 years of age.

1998: Low Child Care Development Fund Subsidy

In 1998–1999, only 12% to 15% of eligible families were served by a Child Care Development Fund subsidy in the United States.

1999: Low Child Care Development Fund Subsidy

In 1998–1999, only 12% to 15% of eligible families were served by a Child Care Development Fund subsidy in the United States.

1999: Canadian Child Care Survey

In 1999, a Canadian survey of formal child care centers showed that labor accounted for 63% of costs, and the industry had an average profit of 5.3%. The survey also indicated little economies of scale between larger and smaller operators due to the labor-intensive nature of the industry.

1999: Female-Dominated Occupation in the US

In 1999, a report indicated that "child care worker" was the fifth most female-dominated occupation in the United States, with 95.5% being female. In Canada, the workforce is predominantly female (95%) and low paid, averaging only 60% of average workforce wage. Many employees are at local minimum wage and are typically paid by the hour rather than salaried.

2000: US Daycare Studies

From 2000 to 2007, several studies in the United States indicated that good daycare for non-infants is not harmful and can provide different experiences than parental care, especially when children are two years old and ready to interact with other children. However, bad daycare poses physical, emotional, and attachment risks to the child. Higher quality care was associated with better outcomes.

2001: More than Half of US Children in Childcare Facilities

As of 2001, over half of the children in the United States were attending childcare facilities due to the increasing number of working parents, leading to greater demand for childcare services.

2001: Child Care an Important Aspect of American Society

By 2001, child care had become an important aspect of American society, with more than thirteen million American children under 5 years of age experiencing some form of child care before entering formal school.

2001: Public Agenda Childcare Research

In 2001, Public Agenda was undertaking research on childcare in the United States.

2003: Almost 26% of Families Used Organized Childcare Facilities

By 2003, almost 26% of families used organized childcare facilities as their primary arrangement.

2003: American Study on Daycare and Child Behavior

In 2003, an American study published in Child Development found that the amount of time spent in daycare before age four-and-a-half tended to correlate with a child's increased likelihood of being less cooperative, more disobedient, and more aggressive, although these behaviors remained within the normal range.

2003: IRS Child and Dependent Care Credit Information

In 2003, the IRS Child and Dependent Care Credit information was available as a government resource, providing information on childcare-related tax credits.

2006: New Zealand Uses Learning Stories as a Learning Model

In 2006, New Zealand began using learning stories as a learning model in their curriculum called "Te Whaariki". These stories highlight children's learning outcomes, document their progress, and provide parents with greater insight into their child's time in childcare.

2006: University of Florida's IFAS Childcare Research

In 2006, the University of Florida's Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences (IFAS) was undertaking research on childcare in the United States.

2007: NICHD Survey Indicates Lack of Quality in American Healthcare Centers

A 2007 National Institute of Child Health Development survey indicated a lack of quality in American healthcare centers.

2007: US Daycare Studies

2007: Federal Daycare Programme for Working Mothers

In 2007, the Federal Daycare Programme for Working Mothers was created in Mexico. It allowed for subsidized home and community based childcare. Care center runners had to have a training component, including a psychological test and training courses, and would receive money to furnish their facility.

2007: Ministry of Social Development Childcare Program

In 2007, the Ministry of Social Development in Mexico created a childcare program focused on assisting children and mothers not covered by social security services. This targeted low-income families, requiring mothers to be working or seeking work, assessing income in comparison to minimum wage, and ensuring they had no other access to services.

2007: National Institute of Health Study

In March 2007, the National Institute of Health released a study that followed children from early childhood through the 6th grade, finding that children in higher quality childcare scored higher on 5th grade vocabulary tests. The study also reported that teachers found these children to be more "disobedient", fight more frequently, and more argumentative, although the increases in aggression and vocabulary were small and within the normal range.

2008: The Star Article on Not-for-Profits

In 2008, an article in The Star stated that not-for-profit childcare organizations are much more likely to create high-quality environments where children thrive.

2008: India Adopts WHO Standards

In 2008, the Government of India (GOI) adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for measuring and monitoring child growth and development for both the ICDS and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

2009: NCCIC Childcare Information Center

In 2009, the National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC) was providing childcare information in the United States.

2011: Childcare Costs Increase Significantly

Between 2011 and 2012, the cost of child care increased at up to eight times the rate of increases in family income in the United States, putting a significant financial strain on families. For a four-year-old child, center-based care ranges from about $4,300 in Mississippi to $12,350 in Massachusetts.

2011: Daycare Coverage in Norway Approaching 100%

In 2011, Norway was approaching universal daycare coverage, with most regions nearly achieving the government guarantee of daycare for all children over one year old. While not yet at 100%, the maximum price policy aimed to make daycare affordable for all families.

2012: Childcare Costs Increase Significantly

2012: Head Start Lead Teachers' Education Requirement

By 2012, Head Start programs required all lead teachers to possess a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, reflecting an effort to enhance the quality of early childhood education.

2013: The Hell of American Day Care

In 2013, The New Republic published a cover story entitled, "The Hell of American Day Care", highlighting potential benefits and harms related to formal child care in the United States.

2013: Cost of Childcare in Australia

In 2013, the median weekly cost of center-based long day care in Australia was approximately A$364, making it unaffordable for many lower-income families.

March 2014: Senate Passes Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization

In March 2014, the U.S. Senate passed a reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant program with changes to ensure safer child care, including background checks, CPR, health training, and inspections.

September 2014: Bipartisan Agreement Reached on Child Care and Development Block Grant Act Reauthorization

On 12 September 2014, House and Senate leaders reached a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. The agreement aimed to enhance transparency, strengthen health and safety protections, and improve the quality of care.

November 2014: President Obama Signs Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 into Law

On 19 November 2014, President Barack Obama signed S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, into law.

2017: HiMama Survey Results

According to a survey done by HiMama in 2017, 68% of for-profit child care organizations ranked 'Labor' as their top risk, and 65% ranked 'Talent and Recruitment' as their top priority.

2018: Cost of Free Childcare in India

In the 2018–19 fiscal year, free childcare in India, provided through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), cost the state ₹28,335 crore (US$3.4 billion).

April 2019: Childcare Waitlists in Japan

As of April 2019, Okinawa had the highest percentage of children on the waitlist for childcare in Japan at 2.8% of all applicants (1,702 children), while Tokyo had the largest number of children on the waitlist with 3,690 children (1.19% of applicants).

2020: Increase in Childcare Costs

In 2024, the average annual cost of center-based child care for one child was $13,128, a 29% increase from 2020, compared to a 22% rise in overall consumer prices over the same period.

2021: Childcare Supervision Ratios in Australia

As of 2021, the minimum supervision ratios of educators to children in Australia were 1:4 for infants, 1:5 for 2–3 years old (except for VIC – 1:4), 1:10 for preschoolers in NSW, TAS and WA, and 1:11 for preschoolers in ACT, NT, QLD, SA and VIC.

2021: Canadian Government Investment in Child Care

In 2021, reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic's impact, the Canadian government emphasized the value of child care for child development and economic growth, aiming to reduce childcare costs. The 2021 Canadian budget allocated up to $8.3 billion for early learning and childcare services, including support for indigenous communities.

2024: Childcare Costs Soar in the United States

In 2024, the average annual cost of center-based child care for one child was $13,128, a 29% increase from 2020, compared to a 22% rise in overall consumer prices over the same period.