2.2: Community Settings

ECE 115: Infant Toddler Development · LibreTexts

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    Types of Communities

    Early care options for parents look different based on where they are living. Urban, rural, and suburban communities all offer different kinds of experiences for parents who are looking for childcare for their child.

    While these settings offer different kinds of care, care is also often determined based on a parent's socioeconomic status and what kind of care they can afford for their child.

    Urban

    Urban settings are essentially cities-think Chicago or New York. These communities are more densely populated, typically with options for public transportation for daily use. These communities tend to have multiple options for early care, such as early childhood schools or day cares, yet often have a "slot gap." A slot gap refers to when there are more children that need care than there are locations/spots available for children. Expecting parents often have to get on wait lists early in order to ensure that their child has care.

    Suburban

    Suburban settings are typically close to cities/urban settings, yet are less densely populated than cities and typically have some kinds of daily public transportation (though more limited based on what city they are close to). Suburban communities typically have more options for childcare, like in urban settings, but also can experience "slot gaps."

    Rural

    Rural settings are defined by their less dense population. Think of farmland or small farming towns. Rural communities are much further away from urban settings than suburbs are, and have little to no public transportation options for daily use. While there are many benefits to raising a child in a rural community, there is less access to different kinds of care, such as limited early childhood schools or day care settings to enroll the child in. When there is little access to care, these are called "child-care desserts" meaning that options are either limited or non-existant.

    2.2: Community Settings is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.