Approximately what percentage of children under two are cared for solely by a parent?

The choice indicating that approximately 48% of children under two are cared for solely by a parent reflects data from various studies on child care arrangements. This statistic suggests that a significant portion of young children is raised in environments where a primary caregiver, usually a parent, is the sole provider of care during their formative years.

This percentage can be influenced by several factors, including the availability of parental leave, socio-economic conditions, cultural values regarding child-rearing, and the mother's employment status. In many families, especially in dual-income households, the reliance on external childcare sources tends to increase as children grow older and parents return to work. However, during the early years of life, many parents choose to stay at home or arrange to have one parent as a stay-at-home caregiver, which contributes to this statistic.

Understanding this demographic insight is important for grasping broader themes in developmental psychology, particularly those related to attachment theory and early childhood development. The presence of a constant caregiver in a child's life during these early years is crucial for emotional and social development.