For many parents, one of the initial shocks in becoming a parent is discovering the high price of child care. This report uses 2012 data to show the average fees families are charged for legally operating child care centers and family child care homes in every state and the District of Columbia. The report looks at why child care is so expensive and families' options for paying for child care Every week in the United States, nearly 11 million children younger than age 5 are in some type of child care arrangement. On average, these children spend 36 hours a week in child care. While parents are children's first and most important teachers, child care programs provide early learning for millions of young children daily, having a profound impact on their development and readiness for school.