Inequality in Early Care Experienced by US Children

Using multiple datasets on parental and non-parental care provided to children up age six, we quantify differences in American children’s experiences by socioeconomic status (SES), proxied primarily with maternal education. Increasingly, higher SES spend less time their parents more the of others. Non-parental for high-SES is likely be childcare centers, where average quality higher, relatives, lower. Even within types childcare, higher-SES tend receive measured cost. Inequality evident at home as well: measures enrichment home, from both self-reports outside observers, are children. Parental qualityare positively correlated, leading substantial inequality total received all sources early childhood.