The Childcare series studies childcare subsidies, availability of early childhood education services, and childcare choices made by parents. The series consists of survey and interview data. The target group included parents and guardians of children of different ages residing in specific regions in Finland. The data were collected over a period of time from the same participants, for example so that data were first collected when the child was aged about one year, and then again when the child was aged four years.
The data for the Childcare series were collected as part of the Finnish Childcare Policies: In/Equality in Focus (CHILDCARE) research project conducted by the University of Jyväskylä and Tampere University in collaboration with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. The research project began in October 2015 and was concluded in September 2021. The first data collection for the Childcare project took place in 2016.
The survey examined the circumstances of families with four-year-old children regarding, among other topics, living arrangements, income, parental roles, childcare arrangements, and childcare allowances and vouchers. Respondents included the guardians of four-year-old children in Finland. The survey was conducted as part of the Finnish Childcare Policies: In/equality in Focus (CHILDCARE) research project, a joint collaboration by the University of Jyväskylä, Tampere University and Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
First, the respondents were asked about their four-year-old child's childcare arrangements. Questions examined what arrangements they had in place for their four-year-old and any other children and how satisfied they were with the arrangements. Further questions were asked based on whether the child was at home or looked after by an unpaid carer or in day care. Next, the respondents' work situation, work-life balance, well-being, and family circumstances were surveyed. Questions also focused on the respondents' financial situation and views on childcare policies.
Background variables included, among others, the respondent's municipality of residence (categorised), gender, age group, marital status, family composition, level of education, and current activity and employment. Additionally, background information relating to the child was collected, including the child's gender, living arrangements, and childcare arrangements. The education and current activity of the respondent's spouse/partner were also charted.
Temporal comparisons can be made between this dataset and dataset FSD3577 Early Childhood Education and Care Survey 2016 based on the randomised id variable.
The invitation to participate in the study was sent to all parents and guardians whose child had been born between 1 October 2014 and 30 September 2015 and who were living in the municipalities of Alajärvi, Hamina, Lieksa, Kittilä, Kuhmo, Pietarsaari, Raasepori, Salo and Ulvila as well as in certain postal code areas of Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Oulu and Tampere. The invitation was also sent to all parents and guardians who participated in the 2016 survey regardless of their current municipality of residence. The municipalities of Kuhmo, Pietarsaari and Raasepori were added for this survey based on their geographical location, economic and demographic structures, and certain aspects of childcare allowances and vouchers and the early childhood education system in the municipality.
The sample was supplemented by sending invitations to parents and guardians with four-year-old children in three purposively selected postal code areas in the larger municipalities. The postal code areas were selected from the areas included in the 2016 survey so that the areas with the lowest employment rate and level of education and income among the population were selected for the 2019 study. Postal code areas that were known to have a larger population of immigrant residents were also included in the study. Additionally, the location of the postal code area in relation to the city centre as well as the day care and early childhood education opportunities in the area were taken into account. This was done to ensure that the study included areas both with and without private day care opportunities.
The online questionnaire was available in the Webropol tool in Finnish, Swedish or English. It was also possible to respond to a paper questionnaire, which was delivered to the respondents in Finnish with the second and third reminders to participate in the study. The survey was distributed to two parents or guardians of each child based on information from the Finnish population register. The survey was sent to 7,764 parents, and 1,871 parents responded from 71 different municipalities.