Social responsibility Paper

The Volunteers in Child Care

Student Name

PSYC 2301.7…’

Professor Ott

Abstract

Childcare is a form of care that exists for many working families. It’s a way for them to go out and earn money and know that their children are safe in the hands of others. Many volunteers are women and some of these women happen to be mother’s themselves. It can be questioned whether these mothers who volunteer for childcare do it because of the age of their kids. It has as well been questioned if them having kids at all affects their likelihood to volunteer. However, the correlation cannot truly be set and stone. Although, there are some positive and negative trends in regards to the ages of their children, there isn’t a definite correlation one can make between the two concepts.

Key Words: Child Care, Mothers, Volunteers.

Volunteers in Childcare

In the United States, it has become more and more common for families to turn to some form of childcare. There are 75.2 percent of full-time mothers who use a form of childcare for at least part of the time they’re away. In contrast, part-time mother’s use childcare 86.3 percent of the time (Glynn). There can be multiple factors that volunteers consider when they consider participating in this job.

Research

When mothers apply for childcare, it can be difficult for them because they have children of their own. However, many still wish to apply so they can help other mother’s alike. They as well choose to apply because they would like to be with their child if they can help it. However, for these same reasons, many with children of their own may choose to not volunteer at any place. Taking this into account, if mothers have multiple children will they be likely to help with childcare or would they be less likely to volunteer?

In the table above there are differing opinions mothers have when choosing to volunteer or not based on the age of their children. In the United States as the years went on the percentage of mother’s who were volunteering in childcare continued to grow in each age group. The age that these mothers participated the most in was when their child was around the age of 6-13 years old (70%) in 1987. This is compared in 87’ when the mothers who did have a child around the age of 0-2 years old filled 53% of the positions. This trend, however, isn’t the same for Belgium. For Belgium, yes, the number of mothers overall increased or remained the same over the years. However, in 1987 61% of the mothers with a child who was 6-13 years old volunteered, this is compared to mothers with children who were 0-2 years old (67%). The number of volunteers decreased due to various factors. Belgium and the United States are unlike Italy. Italy’s statistics increased over the years however their volunteer percentages that were women with children weren’t very high in the first place. In fact, their highest percentages were in 87’ with women who had children that were 3-5 years old (47%). However, that number was nowhere high compared to both Belgium and the United States (Goulet).

Critical Thinking

When I started to volunteer at childcare, I would notice the women around me who worked. I would notice that many of them had their own reasons for helping, as well as if their children played a factor when it comes to helping in childcare. In fact, the women who run the child care all have children of their own. It was something that I had wondered for a while now, if that possibly contributed at all to their choice of career. Doing this research allowed me to understand more in-depth that thought process.

Overall one can see that the number of women that choose to volunteer isn’t necessarily based on whether they have children or not. It as well isn’t primarily based on the age if their child too. However, there are some correspondences that each year, the number of volunteers increased with the age their child. However, the numbers fluctuated too much to come up with a precise conclusion that shows there is a direct correlation between the two aspects.

References

Glynn, S. J. (2012, October 31). Fact Sheet: Child Care. Retrieved April 04, 2018, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2012/08/16/11978/fact-sheet-child-care/

Goulet, H. (1988). Child Care In OECD Countries. Child Care,124-126. Retrieved April 4, 2018, from https://www.oecd.org/els/emp/4343133.pdf.

Women Volunteers based on the age of their children

0-2 years 1983 United States Italy Belgium 45 43 66.5 0-2 years 1987 United States Italy Belgium 53 45 67 3-5 years 1983 United States Italy Belgium 57 42 63 3-5 years 1987 United States Italy Belgium 67 47 67 6-13 years 1983 United States Italy Belgium 65 40 53 6-13 years 1987 United States Italy Belgium 70 46 61