Figure 1: Percent of Children in Child Care

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Percent of Children (Birth to Age 14) Who Are in Regularly Scheduled Child Care, King County & Child Care Preferences by Parents

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

In 2007, 54% of children ages 5 and under were in child care on a regularly scheduled basis, 48% of these for at least 25 hours a week. Children in Seattle were more likely to be in regularly scheduled care than those in North or South Regions (data not shown). 20% of school-age children (6-14) were in regularly scheduled child care; 19% in the North Region, 26% in Seattle, 14% in the East Region, and 20% in the South Region. Of these, 23% were in care for at least 25 hours a week (data not shown). Younger children (62%) were most often cared for in a formal setting and 34% used two or more types of care. Most school-aged children (69%)were cared for in a formal care setting and 37% were in two or more types of care.

Quality, trust, convenience in location and hours of operation, and affordability were the main characteristics of child care services that parents considered in choosing a source of care. 15% of parents of 0-5 year olds and 14% of parents of 6-14 year olds said that they had to compromise in their choice of care. The main reasons were cost, scheduling difficulties, and lack of other choices. 16% of parents of 0-5 year-olds and 6% of parents of 6-14 year-olds were dissatisfied with at least one aspect of their child care. Quality, location, schedules and cost were the things they would most like to change.

Child care is a large portion of many household budgets. Infant care can consume up to 23% of median income (2007) in King County. The 2008 average monthly cost for full-time infant care ranges from $1,291 in East Region centers to $1,034 in South Region centers. Licensed family child care (FCC) for infants costs approximately $300 less per month. Preschool center care can consume up to 16% of 2007 median income and ranges from $916 per month in the East region to $746 in the South Region. FCC care costs about $80 per month less.

Child care is a large portion of many household budgets. Infant care can consume up to 23% of median income (2007) in King County. The 2008 average monthly cost for full-time infant care ranges from $1,291 in East region centers to $1,034 in South Region centers. Licensed family child care (FCC) for infants costs approximately $300 less per month. Preschool center care can consume up to 16% of 2007 median income and ranges from $916 per month in the East region to $746 in the South Region. FCC care costs about $80 per month less.

Data Source and Limitations

Data was contributed by Communities Count (www.communitiescount.org).  Local data on families’ use of child care services are from the King County Community Health Survey, 2001, 2004, and 2007, a random digit dial telephone survey. Respondents came from both a random sample of all households, and a random sample of households with children aged birth to five. In each case, the respondent was the person who knew most about the child’s care. The limitations of an English-and-Spanish only telephone survey include the following: a) people who do not have a land line telephone or who do not speak English or Spanish are excluded, and b) people who have less education and lower incomes are underrepresented.

 

Information on child care costs, provider compensation, and capacity are from “Licensed Child Care in Washington State: 2006”, Washington State Department of Early Learning and from Child Care Resources and Referral Network, September 2007 report on licensed child care in King County.

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