Childcare

The overwhelming majority of childcare worldwide is provided by parents. In many cultural contexts worldwide, childcare is a family endeavor: when parents must work, children may be cared for by extended family members or other close relatives and friends within a formal or informal kinship network. In many industrialized nations, the economic necessity of two-parent income and the increasing isolation of the nuclear family creates a necessity for external, professional childcare. In the United States, for example, parents and guardians may choose between in-home childcare, such as a nanny or babysitter, or formal childcare in either a home or center-based care setting. The latter are often subject to licensure and review by the state, whereas the former is much more informal. The National Network for Childcare (NNCC) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) have established guidelines for best practices in childcare. These include establishing strong connections with children's families and communities, using developmentally appropriate practices, providing a safe, engaging, nurturing, and emotionally and culturally responsive environment, and encouraging learning through play and interaction with caregivers and peers.