Friday afternoon. The crowd at Dhanmondi Shishu Park is a little heavier than usual. Amid the throng, ten-year-old Arif walks hand in hand with his parents, his face lit up with a smile, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Today is Friday, the day he has been waiting for all week.
For Arif, Friday and Saturday are his favorite days. These are the days when both his parents are home. His father takes him to the market, and his mother listens to stories about his school day while preparing meals in the kitchen. “I know my parents work for me,” Arif says, “but when we are all together on Friday, the house feels different. I wait for this day all week.”
Arif’s father works at a private company. “During the five working days, I don’t get to spend enough time with him because of office pressure,” he explains. “By the time I return home, he is often asleep. I can only ask about his day. So on holidays, we try to give him our full attention.”
For many children in working families, childhood seems divided into ‘office days’ and ‘holidays.’ On office days, interactions are brief, and conversations are limited. On holidays, time stretches, laughter lasts longer, and stories are shared more freely. Children like Arif sense this rhythm clearly, they mark their weeks by the presence or absence of family, cherishing the moments when life slows down and parents are fully present.
A Reality of a Generation
In urban Bangladesh, the day begins and ends with the office. For many families, life is a relentless cycle of work, responsibilities, and the constant balancing act of home and career. This is not just one family’s story, it reflects the reality of an entire generation navigating the demands of modern city life.
Over the last decade, women’s participation in the workforce has steadily increased, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS, 2024). Yet recent surveys show a slight decline, raising concerns about women’s sustained economic engagement.
Urbanization has transformed traditional joint family structures into nuclear households, reducing support from grandparents and extended relatives. As a result, childcare responsibilities largely fall on parents themselves, creating a strain that is hard to ignore.
Recent research by the International Labour Organization (ILO, 2024) highlights the consequences. More than half of working parents—54%—report that the lack of affordable, quality, and accessible childcare hinders women’s participation in the workforce. Alarmingly, 18% of parents have been forced to leave their jobs entirely due to childcare demands.
This challenge is not unique to Bangladesh. Across the globe, dual-income families have become a common social structure. UNICEF (2025) notes that in most OECD countries, children grow up in households where both parents work. The key difference lies in policy and infrastructure: countries with robust childcare support and family-friendly workplace policies help parents balance work and home more effectively, a safety net that is only beginning to take shape in Bangladesh.
Economic Security vs Time Crisis: The Dilemma of working parents
For many children of working parents, economic stability is a clear advantage. Access to quality education, co-curricular activities, and healthcare often improves when households benefit from dual incomes.
Anjum Ara, an officer at a private bank in Dhaka, said, “If I didn’t work, I couldn’t afford the kind of school I want for my child. Everything is more expensive now. In many cases, two incomes are necessary.”
However, the biggest question against this economic benefit is time. Child psychologists say that the early years of life are crucial for building emotional attachment.
Research from the American Psychological Association underscores the importance of regular, meaningful engagement with parents. Such interactions not only foster confidence but also strengthen social skills, forming the foundation for healthy emotional development.
Child psychiatrist Dr. Samia Haque said, “The problem is not the job; the problem is continuity in communication. Even if the time is short, if parents listen carefully, eat together, or play together, the foundation of the relationship remains strong.”
Daycare: Need or Concern?
In Bangladesh, working families often face a difficult choice when it comes to childcare. For many, the options are limited to three: enrolling their child in a daycare center, hiring a domestic caregiver, or leaving the child with relatives. Each choice carries its own benefits and concerns, ranging from affordability and trust to quality and accessibility.
In developed countries, government support has strengthened childcare systems. For example, Sweden offers long parental leave and subsidized childcare.
In contrast, in the United States, daycare is mostly private and expensive. In Japan, long working hours create a shortage of family time, although family-friendly policies are now encouraged.
In Bangladesh, the picture is still evolving. Quality and affordable daycare centers remain limited. According to a United Nations in Bangladesh press release referencing a study used to support the Roadmap for Childcare in Bangladesh, there are around 63 government-run daycare centers and more than 100 private facilities across the country. However, many private centers are beyond the reach of low- and middle-income families. Concerns also persist regarding proper monitoring, trained caregivers, and consistent standards of care.
Every morning, Lamisha’s mother drops her off at Kids Paradise BD Daycare Center before heading to work. Inside, the rooms are bright with toys, drawing books, and the cheerful rhythm of story time. Meals are served on schedule, naps are supervised, and playtime is structured.
“When her work is done, my mom will come and take me,” Lamisha says with a smile that reflects both trust and routine.
Popi Khandakar, a staff member at the center, emphasizes that their role goes beyond supervision. “We don’t just keep the children; we care for them. Feeding, sleeping, playing—everything follows a routine. We try to make sure parents feel secure.”
Dr. Samia Haque added, “A quality daycare can also help in a child’s social development if proper monitoring and training are ensured.”
Screen: The Silent Companion
In today’s fast-paced world, technology has become an unavoidable part of daily life. For many working parents, it often serves as a convenient solution to a difficult problem: how to keep children engaged while managing professional responsibilities. Handing a smartphone or tablet to a child has quietly become a common coping strategy in busy households.
Afifa, an eighth-grade student, describes her routine after school. “After school, I sit with my phone. I use Facebook, watch reels, and sometimes look for study materials. Since my parents are at work, it helps pass the time,” she says. For her, the screen is not just entertainment, it is a companion that fills the long, quiet hours before her parents return home.
Health experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend limiting children’s screen time according to age. Yet in reality, following those guidelines can be challenging. Long working hours, traffic, and exhaustion often leave parents with little energy for meaningful engagement at the end of the day.
Azizul Islam, a private employee, said, “By the time I return home at 8 pm, I don’t have the energy to give time to my family. If I turn on YouTube, my child stays quiet. I know it’s not right, but sometimes I don’t find an alternative.”
However, experts warn that this seemingly harmless “quiet time” may come at a cost. Excessive and unsupervised screen exposure can affect children’s language development, shorten attention spans, and influence behavior in the long run. The concern is not technology itself, but how it is used.
Technology is not inherently harmful. When used thoughtfully, it can educate, inspire creativity, and even strengthen family bonds. Watching a program together, discussing online content, or guiding children through educational resources creates a shared experience. In contrast, handing over a device and walking away turns the screen into a silent substitute for connection.
Lessons of Independence
Research suggests that many children of working parents develop independence at an early age. From managing their own homework to organizing daily routines, these children often learn to take responsibility for their tasks sooner than others. They become skilled at managing time, making decisions, and handling small household duties on their own.
However, this early independence can sometimes come at an emotional cost. Without regular communication and quality time, children may experience feelings of loneliness or emotional distance.
Mahfuz, a sixth-grade student, shares his experience: “Both my parents work. I do my own tasks; eating, homework, and small household chores. Sometimes I feel lonely, but I know they are working for me and our family.”
Despite occasional loneliness, such experiences often nurture a strong sense of responsibility. Experts emphasize that with open discussion and consistent communication, children of working parents can grow up to be both responsible and confident.
Professor Tahmina Akter, from the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, said: “Being working parents is not a problem in itself; the main issue is how much importance is given to a child’s emotional and mental needs. If parents set aside specific time every day, such as eating together, talking before sleep, or having a ‘no phone hour’ children develop a sense of security and confidence.
Due to work pressure, parents often feel guilty, and that can also affect children. Instead, creating conscious and planned family time is more effective. Even five to ten minutes of uninterrupted conversation can play a big role in a child’s mental well-being.
At the same time, policy support is important. Flexible working hours, adequate maternity and paternity leave, and affordable daycare services can help families create a more balanced environment.”
