Further, providing
education assistance through various credits and deductions, each with slightly different eligibility rules and
benefit amounts, makes it difficult for families to determine which
tax preferences provide the
most assistance.
However, as a consequence of young mothers being required to work, infants may be placed in child care at a very early age, and mothers often require a patchwork of solutions, some of which may be substandard.40 Quality child care and early childhood
education are extremely important for the promotion of cognitive and socioemotional development of infants and toddlers.41 Yet, child care may cost as much as housing in
most areas of the United States, 25 % of the budget of a family with 2 children, and infant care can cost as much as college.42 Many working families
benefit from the dependent care
tax credit for the cost of child care, allowing those families to place their children in a certified or higher - quality environment.43 However, working families who do not have sufficient income to pay
taxes are not able to realize this support for their children, because the credit is not refundable or paid to families before taxation.44 Therefore, some of the
most at - risk children who might
benefit from high - quality early childhood
education are not eligible for financial support.