CHILD-CARE EXPENDITURES FOR PRESCHOOLERS - A STUDY OF EMPLOYEES IN A UNIVERSITY SETTING

Among the 347 preschool children of employees sampled, 44.7% were care d for ''in own home,'' the most prevalent arrangement for preschoolers , followed by 34.3% who were cared for ''in other's home,'' and 21%, o r about one in five, who were in child care centers, a rate less than the national average. Using child care centers located at or near work and dissatisfaction with child care increased the level of expenditur es per child for child care services. Lower expenditures on child care services were associated with using ill own home care located at or n ear school, having older preschoolers, being in the three middle-range income brackets, and having a partner working part-time. These result s suggest the need for a variety of child care solutions and arrangeme nts.