One and Done

A new demographic trend may have significant implications for early childhood programs. According to the article "One and Done" in Time (January 19, 2010), more and more married couples are embracing the concept of having only one child.

"'The recession has dramatically reshaped women's childbearing desires,' says Larry Finer, the director of domestic policy at the Guttmacher Institute.... The Institute found that 64% of women polled said that with the economy the way it is, they couldn't afford to have a baby now. Forty-four percent said they plan to reduce or delay childbearing.... This happens during financial meltdowns: the Great Depression saw single-child families spike at 23% of all families.... Since the early '60s, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, single-child families have almost doubled in number, to about 1 in 5 — and that's before the market crashed."

For programs this is good news and bad news: Smaller families means a smaller market size; but with less children, parents are able to invest more per child, making child care more affordable. And, in single-child families, there may be more interest in pursuing the socializing advantages of early childhood programs.

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.

© 2005 Child Care Information Exchange - All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Return to Site