Trends in Parental Time Allocated to Child Care: Evidence from Canada, 1986–2010

Abstract

This study finds a continuous and dramatic increase in parental time spent in child care in Canada from 1986 to 2010. Decomposition of the increase shows that it occurs within demographic groups and does not reflect demographic changes. In addition, an increased dispersion in child care time is observed that reflects changes in time allocation within demographic groups rather than demographic changes. This study also examines the positive relationship between education and child care time. Although substantial gaps in child care time are found between education groups, the magnitude of the gaps has not increased over time.

Beyond childcare: Changes in the amount and types of parent‐child time over three decades

“…We only know part of the answer, because only one form of parent‐child time—“childcare”—is typically analyzed. Parents’ childcare time has increased significantly over the past several decades in Canada (Guppy et al., 2019; Moyser & Burlock, 2018; Wei, 2020), the United States (Bianchi et al., 2006; Sayer et al., 2004), and in other Western countries (Craig et al., 2014; Dotti Sani & Treas, 2016). Despite the rise in women's labor market participation, which sparked fears of deficits in parents’ time with children (Bianchi, 2000), mothers and fathers have protected their time in childcare.…”

“…Parents have increased their time spent on childcare over the past decades in Canada, the U.S., and similar Western countries (Bianchi, 2000; Bianchi et al., 2006; Craig et al., 2014; Dotti Sani & Treas, 2016; Guppy et al., 2019; Moyser & Burlock, 2018; Sayer et al., 2004; Wei, 2020). In Canada, parents devoted over 3 hours per day in 2015 to childcare activities, up from about 2 hours in 1986 (Guppy et al., 2019).…”

“…In Canada, parents devoted over 3 hours per day in 2015 to childcare activities, up from about 2 hours in 1986 (Guppy et al., 2019). Although fathers’ relative contribution to childcare has increased more steeply than mothers’ time in childcare, a substantial gender gap persists (Moyser & Burlock, 2018; Wei, 2020). This steady increase in childcare time has occurred despite countervailing trends such as women's rising employment rates and the growth of dual‐earner families in Canada (Guppy & Luongo, 2015).…”

“…What might explain trends in co‐present time with children compared to childcare time? On one hand, past research on childcare points to behavioral change—the rise of intensive parenting—as the primary driver of increases in childcare time (Craig et al., 2014; Sayer et al., 2004; Wei, 2020). Behavioral change—particularly the increasing salience of intensive parenting—may drive increases in co‐present time in ways similar to childcare time.…”

“…By 2016, over half of Canadians of working age had either college or university qualifications, with just over one‐quarter holding a university degree (Statistics Canada, 2017b). Parents’ education level is positively associated with childcare time in Canada, the U.S., and similar Western countries (Dotti Sani & Treas, 2016; Kalil et al., 2012; Schneider et al., 2018; Wei, 2020). However, educational gradients in childcare time are less stark in Canada compared to the U.S. (Ramey & Ramey, 2010).…”