Married parents, household activities, and childcare

Married mothers employed full time are more likely to do household activities and provide childcare on an average day than are married fathers employed full time.

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In households with children under 18, married mothers who were employed full time were more likely to do household activities--such as housework, cooking, or lawn care--on an average day in 2003-06 than were fathers who were employed full time (89 versus 64 percent).

Among full-time workers who are parents of children under 18, married mothers were more likely to provide childcare to household children than were married fathers. On an average day, 71 percent of these mothers and 54 percent of these fathers spent time caring for and helping household children.

The data in this report are from the American Time Use Survey program. To learn more, see "Married Parents' Use Of Time, 2003-06," news release USDL 08-0619.