Fathers & Childcare: New Roles, New Opportunities

Fathers & Childcare: New Roles, New Opportunities

For a long time, childcare in Switzerland was mainly a women's affair. Fathers were seen as breadwinners, mothers as carers — and daycare was the place where mothers dropped off their children when they went to work. This picture has changed fundamentally in recent years. More and more fathers are actively taking on care responsibilities, working part-time and being involved in daycare life. The paternity leave introduced in 2021 was an important milestone — and at the same time only the beginning.

This guide examines the role of fathers in childcare, presents current figures and models for Switzerland and gives practical tips on how fathers can be actively involved from the start.

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Paternity Leave in Switzerland: The Legal Framework

Two Weeks — Since 1 January 2021

On 27 September 2020, Swiss voters approved the introduction of two weeks' paternity leave. Since 1 January 2021, all employed fathers are entitled to 10 working days of paternity leave, which must be taken within 6 months of the birth.

Key Facts About Paternity Leave

Aspect	Details
Duration	10 working days (2 weeks)
Use	All at once or day by day within 6 months of birth
Compensation	80% of salary, max. CHF 220 per day (via APG/EO)
Funding	Loss of earnings compensation scheme (APG/EO) — like military service
Entitlement	All employed fathers (incl. self-employed with AHV contributions)
Dismissal	Protection against dismissal during paternity leave

In European Comparison

Switzerland lags behind in international comparison. While Sweden offers 90 days of reserved paternity leave, Iceland 6 months and Germany offers flexible models for up to 14 months with parental allowance, Switzerland's 2 weeks are modest. Several political initiatives call for an extension — a parliamentary initiative for 4 weeks of parental leave is in progress.

Paternity Leave and Daycare

Use paternity leave strategically: the two weeks directly after the birth are valuable for experiencing the new family as a unit. When daycare settling in comes later, it can be worthwhile to save individual days and use them for the settling-in process — provided it falls within the 6-month deadline.

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Fathers in Transition: Figures and Facts

Current Statistics on Father Care in Switzerland

The figures show a clear trend — but also that change is progressing slowly:

• Part-time work among fathers: Around 18% of fathers with children under 7 work part-time (below 90%). Among mothers, it is over 80%. The trend among fathers is rising.
• Daycare drop-off and pick-up: According to various surveys, in around 30% of families both parents share the dropping off and picking up of children at daycare — trend rising.
• Parent evenings and meetings: Fathers are increasingly attending parent evenings and development meetings. In urban daycares, the share of fathers at such events is around 40%.
• Housework and care: Fathers today spend an average of around 3.5 hours per working day on childcare and housework — twice as much as in 1990, but still less than mothers.

What Motivates Fathers

Studies show that fathers who are involved early and actively in care remain more engaged in the long term. Paternity leave plays a key role: fathers who take their full paternity leave also take on more care responsibilities later.

Further motivating factors are:

• Flexible working time models from the employer
• Role models among friends and colleagues
• Active invitation from the daycare (not just addressing the mother)
• Equal sharing as a conscious decision by the couple

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Shared Parenting: Models for Swiss Families

More and more families in Switzerland are consciously choosing an equal sharing of paid work and care work. Which model fits depends on the financial situation, professional opportunities and personal wishes.

The Most Common Models

Model	Paid Work	Care	Daycare Days
Traditional	Father 100%, Mother 0–40%	Mother primarily responsible	0–2 days
Modernised	Father 80–100%, Mother 40–60%	Mother more, Father supporting	2–3 days
Partnership	Both 60–80%	Equally shared	2–3 days
Symmetrical	Both 50–60%	50:50 split	1–2 days
Reversed	Mother 80–100%, Father 40–60%	Father primarily responsible	2–3 days

Financial Considerations

Financial reality is often the biggest obstacle to a more equal division. When the father earns more, it seems economically rational for him to work more. But this short-term calculation often doesn't add up in the long run:

• Mother's career: Long part-time phases slow down the mother's career and income — even after the family phase
• Retirement provision: Those who earn less pay less into the second pillar. Part-time work by the mother can lead to a significant pension gap.
• Separation risk: In the event of a separation, the economic independence of both partners is crucial
• Tax implications: A second income is not taxed net at the marginal tax rate — the actual tax burden is often lower than expected

More on care costs and how to plan them into the family budget in our article Planning Childcare into the Family Budget.

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Fathers at Daycare: More Than Just Drop-off and Pick-up

Showing Visibility

Fathers who regularly appear at daycare send an important signal — to their children, to other parents and to the daycare team. Children benefit from seeing that Dad knows the daycare just as well as Mum.

Concrete Opportunities for Fathers

• Drop-off and pick-up: Consciously take on specific days when you drop off and pick up the child
• Accompany settling in: The settling-in process doesn't have to be done by the mother. Fathers can accompany the settling in just as well (sometimes even better) — more on this in our article Daycare Settling In: How to Make the Start a Success
• Parent meetings: Attend development meetings — the professionals appreciate it when both parents are involved
• Parent evenings: Show presence at parent evenings and get actively involved
• Help at events: Summer festival, lantern procession, turnip lantern carving — such events are ideal for getting to know the daycare environment
• Picking up sick children: Share the responsibility when a call from daycare comes
• Parent council: Get involved in the parent council, if one exists

What Daycares Can Do

Daycares can also actively contribute to involving fathers:

• Address both parents equally (don't just call the mother)
• Offer parent evenings in the evening so working parents can attend
• Create father-specific offerings (father-child morning, workshop afternoon)
• Hire male professionals — they are important role models

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Fathers as Role Models: Why It Matters

Children who experience their father as an active carer develop a different understanding of roles than children who only see their father briefly in the evening. Research clearly shows that active fathers have positive effects on their children's development:

Positive Effects of Active Fathers

• Cognitive development: Fathers often play differently from mothers — wilder, more physical, more challenging. This stimulates cognitive development.
• Emotional security: Children with engaged fathers show fewer behavioural issues and more stable emotional development
• Gender roles: Sons and daughters who experience a caregiving father develop more flexible gender role models
• Language development: Fathers often use a different vocabulary from mothers — this enriches language development
• Risk behaviour: Fathers more often encourage children to try new things and test boundaries — an important experience in a safe setting

Father-Child Bond in Daycare

The bond between father and child is strengthened through shared everyday experiences. When the father brings the child to daycare, packs the backpack, puts on the indoor shoes and says goodbye, a personal ritual is created — independent of the mother. This strengthens both the relationship and the child's independence.

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Work-Life Balance for Fathers: Practical Tips

Work-life balance is not just a concern for mothers. Fathers also face the challenge of reconciling professional ambitions with active fatherhood. Our detailed article Work-Life Balance: Models, Tips and Rights examines this topic in depth.

10 Tips for Active Fathers

1. Take your full paternity leave: The 10 days are yours. Use them.
2. Explore part-time options: Many employers are more open to part-time models than you think. Ask proactively.
3. Set boundaries: Not every meeting is more important than picking up your child.
4. Use home office: On home office days, you can take on drop-off and pick-up.
5. Talk to other fathers: Exchange with fathers in similar situations helps and motivates.
6. Know your rights: Breastfeeding time, caring for sick children and paternity leave are regulated by law.
7. Plan childcare together: The mother doesn't plan alone — sit down together and decide jointly.
8. Be present at weekends: Use weekends consciously for shared activities — without your phone.
9. Take on routines: Bathing, reading stories, brushing teeth — routines create bonding.
10. Be patient with yourself: Perfect fathers don't exist. Good fathers are there, make mistakes and learn from them.

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The Way Forward: What Is Moving Politically

Paternity leave was an important first step, but the discussion continues. Various political initiatives are in the pipeline:

• Parental leave: Several initiatives call for parental leave of 14 to 38 weeks that can be flexibly divided between both parents
• Individual taxation: Moving away from joint taxation of married couples would make employment of both partners financially more attractive
• Extending paternity leave: Initiatives for 4 weeks instead of 2 are pending
• Daycare funding: The daycare initiative calls for stronger public funding, which would also make part-time work easier for fathers

How returning to work after the birth can succeed — for both parents — you can learn in our article Returning to Work After Maternity Leave. The tips apply equally to fathers returning to professional life after a care phase.

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Conclusion: Fatherhood Is Not Babysitting

Active fathers are not a trend but a necessity — for children, partnerships and society. Every father who brings his child to daycare, who attends parent evenings, who works part-time and who sees himself as an equal carer, changes society a little bit.

Switzerland still has a long way to go in terms of framework conditions. But every single family that chooses a partnership model drives the change forward.

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