The Pandemic’s Impact on Families, Children & Early Care Providers

The pandemic’s impact on families with young children includes not only issues of health and child care, but also access to basic needs.  Researchers, funders and advocates are providing snapshots of family and early care provider experiences and needs.

Families with Young Children

• Rapid EC Project – University of Oregon’s weekly survey of families with at least one child age five is finding increasing difficult circumstances for households with young children.  Weekly Blogs highlight survey findings and trends, such as: Why Households with Young Children Warrant Our Attention During (and After) the COVID-19 Pandemic; and The Basic Truth About Basic Needs.  
• How the Pandemic Looks to a 3yr old, Boston Globe article, June 1, 2020 –  parents and researchers share reflections on Strategies for Children’s survey of Massachussetts parents with young children under the age of 5.
• Family and Provider Polls and Surveys – The Alliance for Early Success compiled state and national surveys results to provide a snapshot of the impact of the coronavirus on family and provider needs and attitudes. Survey instruments from state advocacy organizations are also included to provide samples for states interested in surveying parents.
• California Parent Poll: COVID-19 and Early Childhood, The Education Trust – West

Low-Income Workers with Children

• Researchers at Barnard College and Duke University had a real-time survey of low-income service workers with children in the field as the coronavirus hit. The results show terrible impacts on wages and emotional distress.

Early Childhood Education Workforce

• NAEYC survey of ECE providers – both centers and family child care homes (March 12-25)
• #NoChildCareNoRecovery Story Hub, Child Care Aware America’s story hub gathers and shares real stories from families and child care providers impacted by COVID-19.