This Mental Health Awareness Month, KinderCare
Learning Companies' Parent Confidence Index highlights access to
child care as a key factor in parent mental health
LAKE
OSWEGO, Ore., May 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Recent data from KinderCare Learning
Companies' fifth annual Parent Confidence Index, a national
study conducted in partnership with The Harris Poll, found that
consistent, high-quality child care is the number one thing parents
say would improve their mental health. Additionally, 65% of parents
said if they knew they would always have quality child care they
would be able to be more present as a parent when with their
children.
The study reveals that 88% of parents believe access to
consistent, high-quality child care would improve their mental
health, however, they feel it's becoming increasingly difficult to
secure high-quality childcare in their community; nearly half of
parents say finding child care feels "impossible" right now and
half identified it as a significant source of stress. In addition,
71% of parents said they're constantly thinking about child care
gaps, a 7% increase from 2023.
"Access to high-quality child care is of utmost importance, both
for the mental health of parents and caregivers and for the
wellbeing of children year-round," said Dr. Marquita Davis, Chief Academic Officer of
KinderCare. "This data inspires us to continue searching for ways
to improve access to care, both through community centers and
through customizable employer-sponsored child care benefits. We
want families to have confidence that their children are learning
and growing in a safe space, as we know that knowledge allows
parents to focus on all of the other things they need to do in a
day."
The report also showed for working parents, quality child care
can help them excel in their careers: 78% of parents said
confidence in their child care allows them to excel at work,
pointing to employers as potential key drivers of improved parental
mental health through the provision of child care benefits.
The full 2024 KinderCare Parent Confidence Index can also be
found here.
Methodology
The Parent Confidence Index was first conducted in 2019. This
year's survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf
of KinderCare from November 3, 2023,
to November 15, 2023, among 2,004
parents with children aged 12 and younger representing a national
sample. Within the sample, 1,177 parents with children ages 5 and
under and 827 parents with children ages 6-12 were surveyed.
About KinderCare Learning Companies®
A leading provider of early childhood and school-age education and
care, KinderCare builds confidence for life in children and
families from all backgrounds. KinderCare supports hardworking
families in 40 states and the District of
Columbia with differentiated flexible child care solutions
to meet today's dynamic work environment:
- In neighborhoods, with KinderCare® Learning Centers
that offer early learning programs for children six weeks to 12
years old and with Crème Schools®, which offers a
premium early education model using a variety of themed
classrooms;
- At work, through KinderCare Learning Companies for
Employers™, providing customized family benefits for employers
across the country, including employer-supported child care
benefits, on-site and near-site early learning centers and back-up
care for last-minute child care, and
- In local schools, with Champions® before and
after-school programs.
KinderCare programs meet the highest standards, validated by
independent, third-party evaluation including:
- Gallup, measuring workforce engagement,
- National Association for the Education of Young
Children, ensuring individual early learning center
quality,
- Cognia, accreditation for before- and after-school
programs
- BRIGANCE® and TerraNova® assessments of children's
academic progress and achievement, and
- WELL Health-Safety Rating™, validating health and safety
practices in our facilities.
Headquartered in Lake Oswego,
Oregon, KinderCare operates more than 2,000 early learning
centers and sites. In 2023, KinderCare earned its eighth Gallup
Exceptional Workplace Award – one of only two current organizations
worldwide to achieve this milestone for eight consecutive years. To
learn more, visit KC-Learning.com.
Media Contact
Colleen Moran
KinderCare Learning Companies®
503-872-1300, option 3
media@kindercare.com
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SOURCE KinderCare Learning Companies