AP Poll: Most Americans Call Child Care Costs a Major Problem/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Most Americans consider child care costs a major problem, a new AP-NORC poll finds. About two-thirds support free daycare and paid family leave, but disagree on government’s role. Views split on whether children are better off with a stay-at-home parent or in daycare.
Quick Look: Child Care Costs Poll
- Major Concern: 75% of Americans call child care costs a “major problem.”
- Popular Solutions: Two-thirds support free or low-cost daycare and paid leave.
- Divided Views: Nearly half believe one parent should stay home with kids.
Most Americans Call Child Care Costs a Major Problem, New AP-NORC Poll Reveals
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — A strong majority of U.S. adults say the high cost of child care is a significant problem, with many supporting government-backed solutions like free or low-cost daycare and paid family leave, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The survey, conducted in June, found about 75% of Americans see child care costs as a “major problem,” but opinions remain divided on how to fix it and how big a role the government should play. Roughly half believe helping working families pay for child care should be a high federal priority.
The cost of care has become a focal point in national debates as families juggle rising expenses and policymakers weigh how best to support working parents. Recent tax legislation included credits for parents and businesses providing child care benefits, though critics argue the measures don’t go far enough to help low-income families who also face cuts to programs like Medicaid and food assistance.
“There’s bipartisan agreement that child care is a problem, but no one magic solution,” said Sarah Rittling, executive director of the First Five Years Fund, an advocacy group. “The good news is it’s sparking serious conversations on both sides of the aisle.”
Strong support for free daycare and paid leave
Roughly two-thirds of Americans support providing free or low-cost daycare for children too young for public school, and a similar share favor requiring employers to offer paid family leave for new parents. Women and Democrats are especially likely to back these measures, though they receive broad support across political and demographic lines.
Mary Banek, a nurse anesthetist from Texas who once ran a daycare from her home, said she’s stunned by how expensive daycare has become. “I don’t know why it’s so high,” Banek said. While she supports finding ways to cap costs, she’s skeptical about government covering the expense.
Mixed views on parents as caregivers
Despite support for daycare funding, many Americans believe young children are better off being cared for at home by a parent. Nearly half—about 45%—say children with two parents fare better when one parent stays home full-time, compared with just 1 in 10 who believe children are better off when both parents work full-time.
Stephen Yip-Wineman, a teacher from California, said there’s a societal bias that sees staying home as not “contributing.” He and his wife decided she would stay home with their kids. “It’s not about traditional gender roles,” he said. “It’s about parents wanting to be there for their kids.”
Debate continues over financial solutions
Some bipartisan efforts have focused on expanding the child tax credit. While Vice President JD Vance has suggested raising the credit to $5,000 per child, the recent increase in the final tax bill only lifted it from $2,000 to $2,200. About 7 in 10 Americans say they’d support raising the credit further, according to a Washington Post/Ipsos poll.
Advocacy groups continue pushing for more robust investment in programs like Head Start and other early education initiatives, warning that proposed budget cuts could undercut progress. Child Care Aware of America has also raised concerns that cuts to Medicaid could lead to a loss of health insurance for many child care workers, deepening the workforce crisis in the sector.
“The cost of child care affects millions of working families,” Rittling said. “This poll shows it’s time for serious action to make quality care affordable and accessible for everyone.”
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