Preschool Children

In countries around the world, with a few exceptions, crude birth rates have been declining; with especially dramatic drops in recent years. This has meant that in many societies around the world, there are fewer preschool-aged children than in the past. Some of the drop in fertility has been associated with women's rising levels of education and participation in paid work. This has resulted in more women postponing or deferring of motherhood, and having fewer children. In industrialized nations, many women are also choosing to postpone or decline legal marriage; and if they do marry, they are more likely than in the past to have the option to legally dissolve unhappy unions. Changes in the number and timing of children, the formation and dissolution of ...