Parents in the labor force face numerous decisions when balancing their work and home life, including choosing the type of care to provide for their children while they work. Interest in the use of child care has grown as more women now than in past decades are in the labor force. Child care arrangements and their costs are important issues for parents, relatives, care providers, policy makers, and anyone concerned about children. This report, which is the latest in a series that dates back to 1985, shows the number and characteristics of children in different types of child care arrangements in 2002.¹

Preschoolers and grade school-aged children require different types of care. While the primary focus of child care for infants and preschoolers is meeting their basic needs, older children often engage in structured enrichment activities and are found in self-care situations. The respective child care arrangements used for each age group are compared and contrasted within this report. Information is also provided on assistance in paying for child care arrangements and the number of fathers providing care for their children.

_______________
¹ The data in this report are from reference month 4 of the fourth wave of the 2001 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). The data were collected from February through May 2002.The population represented (population universe) is the civilian noninstitutionalized population living in the United States.