childcare
gb/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ/ us/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ/
B1
English
~ 9200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
action
1
care and supervision of children
The care of children by someone, usually when parents are working or cannot be with them.
Usage pattern:
[someone] needs/uses/provides childcare
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write *child care* as two words and wonder if it is wrong. Both 'childcare' and 'child care' are used, but 'childcare' as one word is very common in modern writing, especially as a general noun. Learners also sometimes treat it as countable (e.g., *many childcares*). In most cases it is uncountable: say 'much childcare' or 'different childcare options', not 'many childcares'.
Synonyms
daycare (Often used especially for daytime care of young children in a center; in some regions more common than 'childcare'.)
Antonyms
parental care (Focuses on care given directly by the parents instead of by another person or service.)
Collocations
affordable childcare
|childcare center
|childcare services
|childcare costs
|childcare provider
|access to childcare
Themes
family
|work
|education
|daily life
|daily_life
|relationships
Examples
- Many parents struggle to find affordable childcare in their area.
- The company offers on-site childcare for employees' children.
- Reliable childcare is essential if we want more parents to return to work.
- They arranged temporary childcare while they attended the conference.
- Good childcare can have a positive effect on a child's early development.
Learner examples
- We need childcare when we are at work.
- The city has a new childcare center near the train station.
- Childcare is very expensive in this country.
- Her mother helps with childcare three days a week.
- They pay for childcare for their two young children.
Noun
B2
entity
2
profession or sector of child care
The type of work or business where people are paid to look after children.
Usage pattern:
[someone] works in childcare
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes do not realize that 'childcare' can mean a whole job area or sector, not just the act of looking after children. In this sense it is usually used after verbs like 'work in' or with words like 'career' or 'industry', not directly after 'need' or 'use' (you 'work in childcare', but you 'need childcare').
Synonyms
childcare industry (More explicitly highlights the business and economic aspect of the field.)
Antonyms
other sectors (Any non-child-related professional fields; used when contrasting career choices.)
Collocations
work in childcare
|careers in childcare
|childcare profession
|childcare sector
|childcare qualification
Themes
work
|education
|family
|daily_life
Examples
- She has worked in childcare for over ten years.
- The government is investing more money in the childcare sector.
- He completed a diploma in childcare before starting at the nursery.
- There is a high demand for trained staff in childcare.
- The course prepares students for a career in childcare and early education.
Learner examples
- My sister wants to work in childcare.
- There are many jobs in childcare in this city.
- He is studying childcare at college.
- She chose childcare because she loves working with children.
- The childcare profession needs more trained workers.
Grammar
Dictionary form
childcare
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ/
US/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ/
Syllables & stress
child - care (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (child)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: childcare
- Plural: childcare
Word family
Expressions
childcare center
1/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ sˈɛntɚ/
fixed phrase
place providing childcare services
A building or place where people are paid to look after children, usually during the day while parents work.
Examples
- Their son spends three days a week at a local childcare center.
- The new childcare center opens at 7 a.m. to help working parents.
childcare costs
1/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ kˈɔsts/
fixed phrase
money paid for childcare
The money that parents must pay for someone to look after their children.
Examples
- Rising childcare costs make it hard for many parents to return to work.
- They moved to the suburbs to reduce their childcare costs.
childcare facilities
1/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ fəsˈɪlɪtiz/
fixed phrase
buildings or rooms for childcare
Special places, such as rooms or buildings, that are made for looking after children.
Examples
- The company has excellent childcare facilities on site.
- New housing projects must include childcare facilities.
childcare provider
1/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ pɹəvˈaɪdɚ/
fixed phrase
person or company giving childcare
A person or a business that looks after children as a job.
Examples
- We are looking for a new childcare provider now that we have moved.
- All childcare providers must be licensed in this state.
childcare responsibilities
1/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ ɹispˌɑnsɪbˈɪlətiz/
fixed phrase
duties of looking after children
The jobs and tasks you must do to care for children.
Examples
- They share childcare responsibilities equally between them.
- The new policy supports employees with childcare responsibilities.
childcare services
1/t͡ʃˈaɪldkˌɛɹ sˈɚvɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
organized services for child care
Official help or programs that look after children for parents, often for money.
Examples
- The city offers free childcare services for low-income families.
- Many universities provide childcare services for their staff and students.