Parents as students: How the childcare crisis is affecting adult learners

Adults often have to make tough choices when it comes to scheduling: work, parenting, relationships, social and civic obligations, hobbies, self-care. There are a lot of responsibilities to manage and it can require a lot of time. That pull — particularly between domestic and professional roles — has long been a tough one to navigate, and it remains challenging today.

As families continue to navigate economic pressures and changing work environments, we are realizing how critical many of our systems are — and also how fragile some of them are.

Childcare services are necessary for millions of parents to ensure they can keep their work commitments, meet their educational goals, and maintain their mental health. Without reliable childcare, those who are working to be successful students while parenting may find themselves struggling to keep it together.

The childcare crisis

The ongoing childcare crisis is highlighting many types of systemic inequities. The childcare industry continues to face significant challenges, and unlike other industries that have received substantial support, childcare has not benefited from the same sense of nationwide urgency to ensure availability and affordability.

A 2025 Care.com Cost of Care report found that nearly half of parents (48%) say they don’t have enough help with childcare, among other concerning findings, like:

• 22% of household income is spent on childcare
• 90% of parents report losing sleep
• 80% of parents (and 90% of moms) report crying
• 29% even report considering suicide or self-harm due to the challenges of finding, managing, and affording care

Not only do parents face limited access to quality, affordable schools, daycares, or other formal childcare services, but many of their familial support systems remain strained. In two-parent households where both parents work, they may have managed to alternate childcare duties in the past when the occasional school or daycare closure came up. With ongoing affordability challenges and limited availability in many areas, however, finding consistent care has become increasingly difficult. This is especially true for parents who are themselves managing demanding work schedules or trying to pursue their education. And for families who rely on grandparents or other relatives for occasional (or regular) childcare support, coordinating schedules and managing expectations can add another layer of complexity.

The long and short of it is, it's affecting everyone. Still, it doesn't affect everyone equally. Families of color in the United States continue to face disproportionate challenges when it comes to accessing affordable, quality childcare.

These communities share common social and economic factors that can limit their access to resources, including inconsistent access to healthcare, employment in fields with less flexibility, and economic vulnerabilities that can have a more dramatic impact on their ability to afford quality childcare.

Black families are also less likely than white families to have at least one working family member when one family member is unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This again puts families of color in a more vulnerable state when facing the additional burden of childcare costs and accessibility.

Women as primary caregivers

These issues can and do affect a diverse cross-section of parents and caregivers, but they affect some more than others. And they can be especially devastating for women. Women remain most likely to bear the most responsibility for ensuring children are taken care of, regardless of what else is going on in the world, and they're the parents who are most likely to make professional or educational sacrifices in order to make it work for the kids.

At a time when families are navigating economic uncertainty and managing increasing costs of living, women who have already had to choose between advancing their careers and maintaining a household are being asked to shoulder even more responsibility.

As research continues to show, the ongoing challenges around childcare have exposed inequality in household labor, which is crucial to the functioning of our economy. In most families, women's responsibilities include more food preparation, cleaning and child care than ever before, with those who are economically vulnerable facing the greatest challenges.

Even a year or two out of the workforce can affect someone's earnings trajectory for the rest of their life; women who have had to take time off work to raise families may see that earnings loss compounded by periods of unemployment or underemployment. The impact of how we address childcare challenges now will be felt by the economy — and women's outcomes — for years to come.

Making it work in school

Of course, all of this is difficult enough for parents who are 'only' trying to manage childcare responsibilities and their work. What about those who are pursuing postsecondary education too? If you're employed, managing your kids' schedules and needs, and trying to complete your own schoolwork — how can you possibly get it all done?

It certainly isn't easy, and we won't pretend otherwise. But there are some things working in your favor if you're an adult student today. Online program options, flexible scheduling, and career training programs that won't slow you down with a bunch of general education courses can all mean that it's possible to still be a successful student even while juggling multiple responsibilities. Plus, there are scholarships available specifically for adult career college students, like the one offered by the Imagine America Foundation, to help offset the cost of education.

And with a competitive job market and rapidly evolving industries, adding a degree or certificate to your resume can be a great way to help you prepare for a new career or advance in your current role.

Start looking for career training programs in your fields of interest and see just how flexible and rewarding a career college education can be, even as a busy parent.