From Robin McClure,
Your Guide to Child Care.
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A 2007 U.S. government report on child and family statistics shows that compared to the previous year's findings, there is an increase in the percentage of children living with at least one working parent. That's good news for kids, as having a parent who works reduces poverty, increases health care for kids, and puts food on the table. And, no surprise here, the report also cites that employment may enhance children's psychological well-being and improve family dynamics. According to America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 84 percent of white, non-Hispanic children live with families with at least one working parent. Black, non-Hispanic children and Hispanic children were less likely than white, non-Hispanic children to have a parent working year round, full time. About 74 percent of Hispanic children and 62 percent of black, non-Hispanic children lived in families with secure parental employment in 2005, research found.

Highlights of other findings relating to child care and child health include:

• In 2005, 61 percent of pre-school children ages 0–6 (about 12 million children) were in some type of child care on a regular basis from persons other than their parents. This is about the same proportion of children in child care as in 1995.
Patterns of child care vary by the poverty status of the child's family. In 2005, children in families with incomes at least twice the poverty level were more likely than children in families with income below the poverty level, and children in families with income between the poverty level and 200 percent of the poverty level, to be in nonparental care (68 percent versus 51 and 53 percent, respectively). In addition, children in families with incomes at least twice the poverty level were more likely than children in families with lower income to be in home care by a nonrelative or in center-based programs such as nursery schools and other early childhood education programs.
• The percentage of children ages 3–5 not yet in kindergarten who were read to daily by a family member was higher in 2005 than in 1993 (60 versus 53 percent). A greater percentage of White, non-Hispanic and Asian children were read to daily in 2005 than were Black, non-Hispanic, or Hispanic children (68 and 66 percent, compared with 50 and 45 percent, respectively).
• In 2005, 89 percent of children had health insurance coverage at some point during the year, down from 90 percent in 2004.
• In 2005, 48 percent of children ages 2–4 had a dental visit in the past year, compared with 84 percent of children ages 5–11 and 82 percent of children ages 12–17. In 2003–2004, 23 percent of children ages 2–5 and 14 percent of children ages 6–17 had untreated dental caries (cavities) upon dental examination.
• In 2006, 67 percent of children ages 0–17 lived with two married parents, down from 77 percent in 1980.
• The proportion of children ages 6–17 who were overweight increased from 6 percent in 1976–1980 to 11 percent in 1988–1994 and continued to rise to 18 percent in 2003–2004.

The complete report is viewable online.