ABSTRACT
There are a number of similarities in the histories and demographic trends of Australia and the three English-speaking countries under consideration–the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada–as well as in some of the themes running through each historical and current description of child care. This is partly due to the shared origins of the four countries, and to similar demographic developments in Western societies, such as divorce, women working and migration, and to the fact that Canada, the United States, and Australia are young countries. Nevertheless, each of the countries has its own unique history and traditions, its own political system and dominant ideologies, and its own position geographically–all of which have affected current child-care provision and research interests.
