It is a tradition in western countries society for children to be looked after by their parents, but the requirement of two-job households refers that childcare is often allotted, part of the time to child minders and part of the time to crèches. Most of the western countries have obligatory education and at the time when the child is at school, the school is supposed to act as a loco parent. In case where parents are missing or found dead, or may be unfit to care for their children, state agencies like social services might take on the childcare role. Opulent people who desire the services of experts might delegate the parental role almost completely to nannies.

Today many organizations probably in the developed countries campaign for no cost or subsidized childcare for all, even other such movement for tax breaks and allowances to let parent’s non-finance driven choice. There are many of the free and subsidized childcare programs in the United States that develops Child Development Programs, or the school programs, which hire certified teachers to teach the children while they are at the care. In Australia most child care services are part of the national Quality Assurance system with makes sure that they offer good development programs.