Québec, December 11, 2023. – The Institut de la statistique du Québec published today its report on the Québec Survey on the Preschool Path of Kindergarten Students, which collected data from the parents of about 14,900 children enrolled in 5-year-old kindergarten in 2021–2022. This report provides provincial and regional data on the preschool path of children and the environment in which they grow up.
Portrait of childcare attendance
The vast majority of children in 5-year-old kindergarten (93%) attended a childcare setting at some point before starting school. Among the children who did, half started childcare before their first birthday.
The children who were more likely to have started childcare between the ages of 0 and 11 months were:
- Children born in Québec
- Children living in a family where the highest diploma obtained by any parent is a college diploma
- Children living in upper-middle- to high-income households
Nearly half of children who were in childcare attended just one childcare setting (47%), 35% attended two, and 17% attended three or more.
1 in 7 children enrolled in 5-year-old kindergarten attended 4-year-old kindergarten
Approximately 23% of children who were enrolled in 5-year-old kindergarten in 2021–2022 took part in a public preschool program in the previous year: 14% attended 4-year-old kindergarten (full-time or part-time), and 9% participated in the Passe-Partout program.
The proportion of children who attended 4-year-old kindergarten is higher among:
- Children born outside Québec
- Children whose parents (or single parent) have no diploma
- Children living in low-income households
- Children who did not go to childcare
The transition to 5-year-old kindergarten is more challenging for some children
For the vast majority of children (94%), the transition to 5-year-old kindergarten took place without any difficulty or with some minor challenges, whereas 6% of children experienced several or significant challenges. The proportion of children who experienced significant challenges is higher among boys, among children whose parents (or single parent) have no diploma, and among children with at least one developmental disorder or diagnosed health problem.
Physical activity, screen time, sleep and living environment
The survey also provides a picture of the lifestyle habits and living environment of children in 5-year-old kindergarten, which shows that:
- More than half of children in 5-year-old kindergarten are not very active or not active at all. Children who are active (21%) are more likely to be boys and to have been born in Canada, among other characteristics.
- 16% of children have two or more hours of screen time on average per day.
- 88% get 9 or more hours of sleep on average per day, but fewer than 12 hours.
- 36% tried to read or leaf through books by themselves in the year before starting 5-year-old kindergarten.
- 53% have never moved.
- 11% live in a dwelling with at least one form of nuisance (mould, odours, problems with insects or rodents).
In addition to providing a picture of the preschool path of children, the report identifies certain factors associated with vulnerability among children in 5-year-old kindergarten in various domains of child development.
Read the highlights:
- Le parcours préscolaire des enfants à la maternelle en 2021-2022 (in French only)
- Parcours préscolaire : quels sont les facteurs associés à la vulnérabilité des enfants de maternelle 5 ans? (in French only)
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes, and disseminates official, objective, and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.