---
"title": "What’s Best for the Children?"
"description": "That's the percentage of American adults who say an at-home mother is the ideal situation for children; a nearly identical proportion (41%) say a mother working part-time is ideal."
"date": "2007-10-01"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Russell Heimlich"
    "job_title": "Former web developer"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2007/10/01/whats-best-for-the-children/"
---

# What’s Best for the Children?

About four-in-ten (42%) adults say an at-home mother is the ideal situation for children; a nearly identical proportion (41%) say a mother working part-time is ideal and just 9% say a mother working full-time is ideal for children. Men are more likely than women to consider an at-home mother the ideal situation for children. The same gender difference is found between moms and dads with children under age 18; fathers of minor age children are more likely than mothers to consider an at-home mom the ideal situation for children. [Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/pubs/536/working-women)