Child Care

All societies need to care for their children, and they do so in a variety of ways. Parents, paid care workers, the state, and friends and neighbors contribute to the care of children.

In familialistic countries, such as Italy, it is assumed that families are responsible for the care of their members. In comparison, de-familialized countries assume that families are not able to meet all of their own child care needs. Thus, alternatives for child care are made available. In social democratic welfare states, such as Sweden, the state provides universal child care for citizens through publicly funded day care centers and services. In liberal states, such as the United States, child care is available for purchase on the market. Parents pay day care centers, nannies, or au pairs to care for their children.

Child care also can be provided through informal community networks of family, friends, and neighbors. Illustrating the well-known proverb “It takes a village to raise a child,” some African societies rely on dense informal networks to provide care for children. Studies in Uganda and Nigeria show that while biological mothers may play a prominent role in the care of a child, a number of other adult women, siblings, and other children also regularly provide care to infants, in addition to [Page 132]cooperating in other household work. In isolated regions of Kenya, however, where cultural norms emphasize an exclusive relationship between biological mother and child, caregiving networks are less dense.

Child care through the community is also found in rural and urban communities in industrialized countries. In rural communities, informal networks of care serve to fill the gap in available formal child care services. Child care is traded between neighbors as part of an informal economy. Rural residents also describe caring for neighbors' children as an essential part of the rural way of life and local culture, which are based on closeknit ties. Nor are such communities of care limited to rural areas. “Urban villages” also exist and provide informal child care. City residents often have a number of kin within walking distance and visit regularly with neighbors. These relatives and nonrelatives play a significant child care role. As in rural communities, the exchange of care in the network can be part of an informal economy supplying affordable child care. Within ethnic communities, the sharing of care also can be culturally important and valued.

The support provided through community networks benefits children and parents. Benefits to children include improved school performance and social competency and fewer behavioral problems. The relationship between community and child outcomes is both direct and indirect, as a result of increased quality of parenting. Parental support, stimulation, coping, and effectiveness can increase in community networks.

Regardless of which strategy for child care is used—parenting, formal, or informal care—caring for children, across cultures, is principally done by women. Children are cared for by mothers, women working as paid care providers, and female friends, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers providing care in community networks.