Research summary - Use of non-parental child care in the evenings and/or on weekends

Official title of the full report: Use of non-parental child care in the evenings and/or on weekends

Authors of the full report: Anne Guevremont and Leanne Findlay (Statistics Canada)

Alternate formats

Why this study

This study examined participation in child care on evenings and weekends. It gives us information about the use of flexible child care, with flexibility being one of the five principles in Canada's Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Framework. It used data from the Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements (SELCCA) from 2019 and 2020.

What we did

Based on data from the 2019 and 2020 SELCCA, this study reported on how many children use child care in the evenings and/or on weekends. It also identified the socio-demographic characteristics associated with the use of evening (after 7pm) or weekend care for children under the age of 6.

What we found

About one in six children participated in evening and/or weekend child care in 2019 and 2020. The most common type of non-parental child care in evenings and/or on the weekend was care by a relative (3/4 of children who used child care in the evening/weekend used care by a relative). The second most common was care by a non-relative in the child's home (e.g., a nanny). About one in ten children who used child care in the evening/weekend used care by a non-relative in the child's home. Other child care services were rarely used in the evening and/or weekends such as:

• daycare centres
• preschools, and
• centres de la petite enfance

The children most likely using child care in the evenings and/or on weekends:

• had lone parents
• were under 1 year or 4 to 5 years of age
• had a parent on parental leave
• were in multiple child care arrangements
• were in part-time care (1-29 hours/week) or a spending a high number of hours in child care (45+ hours/week), and
• were living in Quebec and the Eastern provinces

Parents whose child used child care in the evenings and/or on weekends reported more difficulties finding child care. They also reported more consequences of this difficulty. Compared with parents whose children participated in child care but not in evening/weekend care, parents who used evening/weekend care were more likely to report the following consequences:

• changing their work schedule
• working fewer hours
• using multiple/temporary arrangements
• postponing return to work, and
• splitting care with their partner

What it means

The results shed light on demand among families with young children for care during non-standard hours—specifically, in the evenings and on weekends—which had not been reported at the national level in previous studies. The results have implications for the 'flexibility' principle of the Multilateral ELCC Framework and the Canada-wide system of ELCC.

Contact us

Income Security and Social Development Branch, Early Learning and Child Care, Data and Research Unit

Email: esdc.nc.sspb.research-recherche.dgpss.cn.edsc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca