The Importance of Child-Care Characteristics to Choice of Care

Family income, parent education, and perceived constraints as predictors of observed program quality and parent rated program quality

“…Selection of center-based care increases with parent education and child age (Ehrle et al, 2001;Fuller et al, 1996;Howes, 1990;Loeb et al, 2004;NICHD ECCRN, 1997;Tout et al, 2001). Mothers with a college degree or more place a greater emphasis on the educational component of care (Johansen, Leibowitz, & Waite, 1996). One study reported that single mothers rated cost as the most important factor in selecting child care, while married mothers rated child/staff ratio as the most important factor (Leslie, Ettenson, & Cumsille, 2000).…”

“…Considering the proportion of income that low-income parents spend on child care, it is not surprising that income is associated with child care use. Low-income mothers are more likely to use their own mothers for child care, and hours of operation and location are more important selection factors than they are for higher-income parents (Cherlin, 1995;Johansen et al, 1996). Center-based care is more frequently used by parents in non-poor families than in low-income families (Capizzano and Adams, 2004;Cherlin, 1995;Ehrle et al, 2001).…”

Prise en charge des enfants en bas âge en Suisse et participation des femmes au marché du travail*

“…Le deuxième type de caractéristiques se rattache à un ensemble de caractéristiques extrinsèques (Johansen et al, 1996). Il s'agit, notamment, de l'existence de services de garde à proximité du lieu de domicile ou du lieu de travail d'un des deux parents, ainsi que des coûts relatifs de chacun des moyens de garde.…”

“…Cette préférence peut relever de considérations concernant les caractéristiques propres aux moyens de garde (caractéris-tiques intrinsèques, cf. Johansen et al, 1996) ou de considérations économiques. À l'appui de cette hypothèse, on trouve le constat que nous avons fait précédemment selon lequel les ménages font peu appel de manière simultanée à un service de garde payant et à un service de garde non payant (tableau 1).…”

6. Child Care and Welfare Reform, 1994–1996

“…When Hofferth and Chaplin (1994) (Casper and Bianchi 2002, p 190). According to this study few parents actually consider the availability of educational materials and recreational equipments as the most important factor when compared with other factors (Johansen, Leibowitz, and Waite 1996). Hofferth and Chaplin (1994) suggest that, "parents go through a two-or three-step process in which they first determine the distance they are willing or able to travel and the amount they are willing or able to pay for care.…”