History and Traditional

	Childcare in Spain

-Childcare & Kin Networks

-Work-Family Policies

-Bibliography

-Other Useful Links

-Other Countries

Mothers are still the main caretaker within the home, and often struggle to balance work responsibilities with family concerns. Unfortunately, compared to many other European nations, Spain has a limited national childcare system. Childcare programs are available to only 84% of children age three through six. Mandatory schooling for children age six and over constitutes the primary form of national childcare.

Private Solutions

kin networks (see below for more details!)
private nursery
private nanny

part-time/shift work: 25% of working women in Spain are in part-time work
employer benefit packages

*for more information go to the

Policies page!

National Solutions

public nursery/daycare: public care is available to 84% of children between ages 3-6

*for more information go to the Image of teacher and child in daycare room

Policies page!

public schooling

Kin Networks

Other than mandatory schooling for children older than six, kin networks are the most common form of childcare for Spanish families. Of working Spanish mothers, 52% have their mothers take care of preschool-aged grandchildren and 44.5% have their mothers take care of grandchildren after school.

Grandmother with granddaughter

Benefits of Grandmothers as Caretakers

Flexibility: Grandmothers can be available mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends as needed.
Cost: Grandmothers are eager to help and do not charge for their services.
Security: Parents implicitly trust their own family to take care of their children more than non-family members.
Extra Help: Grandparents are often willing to help with other household needs, like cleaning or doing laundry.
Mutual Benefits: Parents believe their own mothers are happy to continue being active housewives rather than being inactive during their retirement years.

References:

Leira, Arunlaug, Constanza Tobio and Rossana Trifiletti. 2005. "Kinship and informal

support: Care resources for the first generation of working mothers in Norway, Italy, and Spain." Pp. 74-96 in Working mothers in Europe: A comparison of policies and practices, edited by U. Gerhard, T. Knijn and A. Weckwert. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.

Carrasco, Cristina and Albert Recio. 2001. "Time, work and gender in Spain." Time and

Society 10:277-301.

Tobio, Constanza. 2001. "Working and mothering: Women's strategies in Spain."

European Societies 3(3):339-371.

www.Eurostat.com

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