A Pew Research Center survey reveals that two-thirds of working mothers and half of working fathers struggle to balance work and family demands, often feeling they can't give 100% to either. The findings highlight the growing challenge as more families have both parents working full-time.
The Welsh government will spend an additional £55m this year to expand childcare for two-year-olds, offering 12.5 hours per week and creating 3,300 new places. This funding is part of Plaid Cymru's flagship policy to provide universal childcare for children aged nine months to four years by May 2030, though specific timelines for younger babies and potential funding cuts remain unclear.
A Melbourne childcare centre, Woodlands St Kilda Road, faces urgent safety rectifications after an inspection revealed children could access a 12th-floor balcony due to faulty fencing. The centre also lacked an emergency evacuation plan for its youngest attendees.
Woodlands St Kilda Road childcare centre in Melbourne received an emergency action notice from VECRA for a safety breach. Children were at risk of accessing a 12th-floor balcony due to faulty fencing and lacked an adequate evacuation plan for young children.
A Melbourne childcare centre, Woodlands St Kilda Road, has been issued an emergency action notice by VECRA due to safety issues, including fencing faults that could allow children access to a 12th-floor balcony and a lack of an emergency evacuation plan for young children.
Ashley Paul Griffith, a former Queensland childcare worker, has failed to reduce his life sentence for sexually abusing 69 girls over nearly two decades. The Court of Appeal upheld the 27-year non-parole period, citing the severity of harm and need for strong deterrence.
A New Mexico judge will consider a lawsuit challenging the state's universal childcare program, which eliminated daycare costs for working families. Plaintiffs allege executive overreach, while the state argues lawmakers have since authorized and funded the expansion.
Taiwan's Examination Yuan passed amendments to three laws to support civil servants in raising children, extending parental leave benefits to age 7, introducing joint-parent incentives, and allowing flexible job transfers for caregiving needs.
India's fertility rate has dropped below replacement level, prompting concerns about long-term economic growth. Experts like Radhika Gupta emphasize the need for infrastructure supporting women's workforce participation and family sustainability.
Taipei City Council members urged the city government to prioritize second-born children for public childcare slots, not just subsidies, citing insufficient capacity. The government plans to expand public childcare facilities, aiming to implement the priority for second children next year.
A cross-party bill to be debated in France's National Assembly on June 4th aims to completely ban plastic tableware in school canteens, nurseries, and maternity wards, extending current restrictions beyond food containers.
In Sokoto, Nigeria, women are returning to education through the Women Centre for Continuing Education (WCCE) to overcome cultural barriers, poverty, and early marriage that previously halted their schooling. The center offers free education, but students still face challenges with costs, household duties, and learning pace.
A Queensland childcare worker, Edwina Amy Ling, has been sentenced to four years in jail for assaulting three young children at the Injinoo Child Care Centre. CCTV footage showed her inflicting physical abuse on a 13-month-old boy.
A Queensland childcare worker, Edwina Amy Ling, has been sentenced to four years in jail for assaulting three young children at the Injinoo Child Care Centre. CCTV footage showed her inflicting physical abuse on a 13-month-old boy.
China's Ministry of Finance has allocated 99.9 billion yuan for 2026 childcare subsidies, a 10.6% increase, to encourage births amid a record low birth rate of 5.63 per thousand in 2025. The subsidies, part of a national scheme, support children under three.
Miao-li County Councilor Chen Chun-nuan proposed establishing a small public childcare center and a fruit museum in Zhuolan due to insufficient childcare and early intervention resources. The county government plans to assess vacant public spaces for a childcare center and explore mobile early intervention services for rural areas.
Parents in England are facing thousands of pounds in extra fees for 'free' childcare, covering essentials like food and nappies due to government underfunding. The education secretary has asked the competition watchdog to investigate these hidden charges.
UK birthrates are at a record low, with many young people delaying or forgoing children due to the high cost of raising a family. The government is investing heavily in childcare but is now investigating private equity's role in the sector due to concerns over hidden fees and profit-driven practices.
New Taipei City Councilor Lin Yi-chi criticized the city's childcare resource imbalance, noting that while the city has 130 public childcare centers, remote areas like Pingxi, Shuangxi, and Gongliao have none, with only Ruifang having one. Mayor Hou Yu-ih acknowledged the challenges in establishing centers in remote areas and pledged to expand Ruifang's center capacity and explore temporary childcare options.
The UK government is asking the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate hidden costs parents face for childcare, such as deposits and fees for meals and nappies, which may undermine the 'free' childcare offer.
UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will ask the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate hidden costs parents face for childcare, including non-refundable deposits and charges for meals and nappies, potentially undermining the government's free childcare offer.
Wendy Steendam, former Victoria Police deputy commissioner, will lead the new Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) to improve childcare safety after alleged abuse and system failures. She assures parents the system is safe and committed to preventing future incidents.
UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has ordered a competition review into hidden childcare charges, including non-refundable deposits and compulsory add-ons, amid concerns parents are facing extra costs despite the government's expansion of funded childcare hours.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire launched a special inquiry and a €20 million reform plan into the city's childcare system following allegations of sexual abuse against children as young as three. 16 people were detained in raids linked to the scandal.
