History of Child care in Timeline

Child care, also known as day care, involves the supervision and care of children, typically from infancy to 18 years old, by individuals other than the child's parents. It encompasses a wide range of settings, professionals, and activities. Early childcare is considered an important aspect of child development.

1969: Limited cross-cultural research on childcare

In 1969, The Handbook of Socialization Theory and Research included virtually no reference to caretaking of children by anyone other than parents.

1971: Veto of the Comprehensive Child Development Act

In 1971, President Richard Nixon vetoed the Comprehensive Child Development Act, which would have created nationally funded child care centers in the US.

1977: Article on cross-cultural caretaking of children

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, siblings and similar-aged children are responsible for younger children.

1990: Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990

In 1990, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 was enacted under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, creating a dedicated federal funding stream for child care subsidies to low-income families.

1995: Childcare reliance in the United States

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 (PRWORA)

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 Study of Developing Nations

Since 1997, WHO has conducted an extensive study of six developing nations to develop New WHO Child Growth Standard which measure the physical growth, nutritional status, and motor development of children from birth to 5 years of age.

1999: Canadian survey on formal child care costs

In 1999, a Canadian survey of formal child care centers found that labor accounted for 63% of costs, with the industry having an average profit of 5.3%. The survey also indicated little economies of scale between larger and smaller operators.

1999: Workforce demographics in Canada and the US

In 1999, in Canada, the child care workforce was predominantly female (95%) and low paid, averaging only 60% of the average workforce wage. In the United States, "child care worker" was the fifth most female-dominated occupation (95.5% female).

2000: Studies on the impact of good daycare

In 2000, studies in the United States suggested that good daycare for non-infants is not harmful, and in some cases, it can provide different experiences than parental care, especially for children around two years old. Higher quality care was associated with better language and cognitive development during the first 4 1/2 years of life.

2001: Child care importance in the US

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: Childcare facility attendance in the United States

In 2001, over one half of the children in the United States attended childcare facilities.

2001: Research on childcare in the United States

In 2001, the Public Agenda began undertaking research on child care in the United States.

2003: Organized childcare facilities as the primary child care arrangement in the US

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

2003: American study on time spent in daycare and child behavior

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

2003: IRS Child and Dependent Care Credit information

In 2003, the IRS began providing Child and Dependent Care Credit information.

2006: New Zealand uses learning stories in "Te Whaariki" curriculum

In 2006, New Zealand started implementing learning stories as a learning model within their curriculum, called "Te Whaariki". This curriculum highlights children's learning outcomes as 'disposition', which includes situated learning strategies and motivation-participation repertoires.

2006: Research on childcare in the United States

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

2007: National Institute of Child Health Development survey indicated lack in quality of American healthcare centers

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

2007: Studies on the impact of good daycare

In 2007, studies in the United States suggested that good daycare for non-infants is not harmful, and in some cases, it can provide different experiences than parental care, especially for children around two years old. Higher quality care was associated with better language and cognitive development during the first 4 1/2 years of life.

2007: Federal Daycare Programme for Working Mothers created in Mexico

In 2007, the Federal Daycare Programme for Working Mothers was established in Mexico, enabling subsidized home and community-based childcare.

2007: Childcare program created in Mexico

In 2007, the Ministry of Social Development in Mexico created a childcare program focused on helping children and mothers who were not covered by the social security services.

2007: NIH study on childcare quality and child development

In March 2007, the National Institute of Health released a study that followed children from early childhood to the 6th grade. The study found that higher quality childcare was associated with higher scores on 5th grade vocabulary tests, but also reported that teachers found these children to be more disobedient and argumentative, although within the normal range.

2008: Not-for-profits produce high quality environments in which children thrive

According to a 2008 article in The Star, not-for-profit organizations are much more likely to produce high quality environments in which children thrive.

2008: India adopts WHO child growth standards

In 2008, the Government of India adopted the World Health Organization standards for measuring and monitoring child growth and development for ICDS and NRHM.

2009: National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC)

In 2009, the National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC) began providing information on child care in the United States.

2011: Daycare availability in Norway

In 2011, most regions in Norway were getting close to guaranteeing daycare for all children that are at least 1 year old by 1 August. There's a maximum price to enable all families to afford it.

2012: Teacher requirements for childcare in Head Start programs in the US

In Head Start programs in the US, by 2012, all lead teachers must have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education.

2013: Inferior quality of childcare in the United States

A 2013 article in The New Republic, citing a 2007 survey by the National Institute of Child Health Development, highlighted the potential benefits and harms related to formal child care in the U.S. and indicated the lack in quality of American healthcare centers.

2013: Median weekly 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: US Senate reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant program

In March 2014, the U.S. Senate passed a reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant program to strengthen minimum protections for children.

September 2014: Agreement to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act in the US

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

November 2014: Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 signed 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 on child care organizations' top priorities

According to a 2017 survey by HiMama, 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

During the 2018–19 fiscal year, free childcare cost the state ₹28,335 crore (US$3.3 billion).

April 2019: Childcare waitlist in Japan

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

2021: Minimum supervision ratios of educators to children in Australia

As of 2021, minimum supervision ratios of educators to children in Australia are 1:4 for infants, 1:5 for 2–3 year olds (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 reflects on child care benefits

In 2021, the Canadian government, reflecting on the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, recognized the benefits and values of child care on child development and economic growth and subsequently invested up to $8.3 billion for child care services for early learning and for indigenous communities.