Child care arrangements for children aged 0 to 5 with long-term conditions or disabilities, 2023

Release date: April 22, 2024
Infographic: Child care arrangements for children aged 0 to 5 with long-term conditions or disabilities, 2023
Description: Child care arrangements for children aged 0 to 5 with long-term conditions or disabilities, 2023

In 2023, 62% of children with long-term conditions or disabilitiesNote 1 were in child care.Note 2

72% of parentsNote 3 of children with long-term conditions or disabilities in child care reported that the child care arrangement used was the best fit for their child.

35% of children with long-term conditions or disabilities in child care who were using support services or therapiesNote 4 were receiving at least some of those services at their child care arrangement.

Areas where children with long-term conditions or disabilities in child care most commonly needed extra support

  • Social interaction: 32%
  • Managing behaviour: 30%
  • Learning: 30%

52% of parents of children with long-term conditions or disabilities reported difficulty finding a child care arrangement.

Most common impacts on parents of difficulty finding a child care arrangement

  • Changing their work or study schedule: 40%
  • Working fewer hours: 36%
  • Paying more than they wanted to: 33%
  • Postponing their return to work: 33%

Most common difficulties experienced by children with long-term conditions or disabilities at their main child care arrangement

  • Participating in activities: 35%
  • Inadequate access or lack of access to therapeutic services within child care: 29%
  • Negative attitudes toward them: 19%

Source: Statistics Canada, Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements – Children with Long-term Conditions and Disabilities, 2023.

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