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Economic News Release
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Table 9. Time adults spent caring for household children as a primary activity by sex, age, and day of week, 2023 annual averages

Table 9. Time adults spent caring for household children as a primary activity by sex, age, and day of week, 2023 annual averages
Childcare activities Average hours per day adults spent caring for household children
Total Weekdays Weekends and holidays
Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women

Children under age 18, total

Caring for household children as a primary activity

1.45 1.12 1.73 1.53 1.10 1.91 1.26 1.17 1.33

Physical care

0.45 0.27 0.61 0.47 0.28 0.64 0.40 0.25 0.54

Education-related activities

0.08 0.03 0.12 0.09 0.03 0.15 0.03 0.02 0.04

Reading to/with children

0.03 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.04

Talking to/with children

0.05 0.02 0.07 0.05 0.02 0.08 0.03 0.02 0.04

Playing/doing hobbies with children

0.29 0.31 0.27 0.24 0.25 0.24 0.40 0.45 0.35

Looking after children

0.08 0.06 0.10 0.09 0.06 0.11 0.07 0.07 0.07

Attending children's events

0.08 0.09 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.12 0.14 0.10

Travel related to care of household children

0.22 0.17 0.26 0.27 0.21 0.33 0.10 0.08 0.11

Other childcare activities

0.17 0.14 0.20 0.21 0.16 0.26 0.07 0.10 0.04

Youngest child ages 6 to 17

Caring for household children as a primary activity

0.86 0.66 1.04 0.97 0.70 1.19 0.63 0.58 0.68

Physical care

0.15 0.08 0.21 0.17 0.09 0.23 0.10 0.05 0.15

Education-related activities

0.08 0.04 0.12 0.10 0.04 0.15 0.04 (1)- 0.06

Reading to/with children

0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 (2)- 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.02

Talking to/with children

0.05 0.02 0.09 0.06 0.02 0.10 0.04 0.02 0.06

Playing/doing hobbies with children

0.09 0.11 0.07 0.08 0.10 0.06 0.11 0.14 0.08

Looking after children

0.04 0.06 0.03 0.05 0.08 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.05

Attending children's events

0.10 0.11 0.09 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.16 0.20 0.12

Travel related to care of household children

0.20 0.15 0.24 0.24 0.18 0.30 0.10 0.10 0.10

Other childcare activities

0.14 0.08 0.19 0.18 0.11 0.25 0.03 0.02 0.05

Child under age 6

Caring for household children as a primary activity

2.32 1.83 2.73 2.34 1.67 2.93 2.26 2.24 2.27

Physical care

0.90 0.56 1.19 0.90 0.54 1.23 0.89 0.62 1.10

Education-related activities

0.07 0.02 0.11 0.08 (2)- 0.15 0.02 (1)- (1)-

Reading to/with children

0.06 0.05 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.06 0.07 0.07 0.06

Talking to/with children

0.04 0.03 0.05 0.04 0.02 0.06 0.03 (1)- 0.03

Playing/doing hobbies with children

0.59 0.62 0.56 0.48 0.46 0.49 0.86 1.01 0.74

Looking after children

0.14 0.07 0.20 0.15 (1)- (1)- 0.12 0.15 0.09

Attending children's events

0.06 0.07 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.06 0.05 (1)- (1)-

Travel related to care of household children

0.24 0.19 0.29 0.31 0.24 0.37 0.09 0.06 0.12

Other childcare activities

0.22 0.24 0.21 0.26 (1)- 0.28 0.13 (1)- 0.04

Footnotes
(1) Estimate is suppressed because it does not meet the American Time Use Survey publication standards.
(2) Estimate is approximately zero.

NOTE: Includes persons 18 years and over living in households with children under 18, whether or not they provided childcare.

Last Modified Date: June 27, 2024