Examining the Stability and Durability of Child Care Arrangements during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada

The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions to all areas of work and family life, including early childhood education and care (ECEC) arrangements. Research demonstrates that instability (i.e., interruptions in care arrangements) and lack of durability in ECEC arrangements (i.e., maintaining the same care arrangements over time) can exacerbate parental stress and negatively affect child development. Drawing on data from an original December 2020 survey of 882 parents with young children in four Canadian provinces, we examine parental choices regarding care before the pandemic and examine the immediate and longer-term impact of COVID-19 on these arrangements. We find in our sample that (a) out-of-home arrangements were more unstable and somewhat less durable than in-home arrangements; (b) loss of access during the pandemic because of child care centre closure was lowest in British Columbia, although this was offset by a relatively high rate of voluntary removal; (c) Ontario had relatively high rates of loss of access because of closure and voluntary removal; (d) overall, 64% of child care arrangements proved durable; but (e) durability was lower at lower incomes and in Ontario. In contrast, durability was significantly higher in Quebec, highlighting the role that ECEC policy investments can play in shielding parents and children from destabilizing events.