030000 CARING FOR AND HELPING HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS

Category Description

2003+: This category captures activities the respondent did to care for or help any child or adult in the respondent's household, regardless of relationship, age, or physical or mental health status. Care for household children and adults is coded separately in sub-categories under 030000. Household members are considered children if under the age of 18.

Activity Coding Rules

Talking with son/daughter/household child

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Talking with or listening to household children (030106).

Talking with a child and other adults

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101).

Talking with household child and non-household child

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Talking with or listening to household children (030106).

Doing arts and crafts, playing games, and playing sports with household child

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/relevant activity (030100). Exception: If the verbatim does not mention children (e.g. "playing Monopoly") but the WHO code indicates children were in the room, code as playing games under Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure (120000). If the verbatim mentions doing these activities with both children and adults, code under the relevant activity (hobbies, playing games, participating in sports), not as childcare.

Giving gifts

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101). Exception: Giving gifts to children should be coded as Caring for and Helping Household (or Non-Household) Members/Caring for and Helping Household (or Non-Household) Children/Caring for and helping household (or non-household) children, n.e.c. (030199 or 040199).

Packing or unpacking bags or suitcases for other household members

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping relevant member/Organization and planning for relevant member (030108 or 030502).

Household management activities specifically mentioned as being done for household adults

2003+: Code as Helping Household Adults (030500). Exception: Food preparation for another household member is always coded under Household Activities/Food and Drink Preparation, Presentation, and Clean-up/Food and drink preparation (020201).

Household children's education-related activities

2003+: Code activities related to children's education as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Activities Related to Household Children's Education/relevant activity (030200). Exception: Code "filling out child's paperwork" as Household Activities/Household Management/Household and personal organization and planning (020902).

Filling out paperwork

2003+: If respondents indicate "filling out paperwork," for themselves, the household, or a child, code as Household Activities/Household Management/Household and personal organization and planning (020902). If respondents specifically indicate they did or helped to do paperwork for another household adult, code as Helping household adults (030501).

Attending a household child's performance or event

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Attending household children's events (030110).

Watching a household child's sporting event

2003+: Code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Attending household children's events (030110). This includes times when the respondent reports watching a household child participate in a sporting competition and times the respondent is watching a household child participate in a sporting class, lesson or practice. (Modified: March 2016)

Giving/serving household children food/a meal

2003+: Code as Household Activities/Food and Drink Preparation, Presentation, and Clean-up/Food presentation (020202). If the verbatim reads feeding children, then code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Physical care for household children (030101).

Walking a household child to someplace

2003-2004: Code as Traveling/Travel Related to Caring for and Helping Household Members/Travel related to caring for and helping household children, inclusive (2003, 2004) (180301). If just strolling or taking a walk with a child, code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Playing sports with household children (030105).

2005+: Code as Traveling/Travel Related to Caring for and Helping Household Members/relevant activity (180302 or 180303 or 180304). If just strolling or taking a walk with a child, code as Caring for and Helping Household Members/Caring for and Helping Household Children/Playing sports with household children (030105).

Helping (or teaching) a household child to do something

2004+: Code under the appropriate child care category. Any helping or teaching activity that cannot be classified under an existing category should be coded as Caring for and helping household children, n.e.c. (030199). For example, "helping my child wash his face" was coded as Physical care for household child (030101); "helping household child with a craft project (not related to education)" was coded as Arts and crafts with household children (030104); "teaching household child to read" was coded as Reading to or with household children (030102). (Added: February 2004)

Visiting a household child in the hospital

2005+: Code as Activities related to household child's health, n.e.c. (030399). (Added: November 2004)

Visiting an adult (household or non-household) in the hospital/nursing home

2005+: Code as Socializing and communicating with others (120101). (Added: November 2004)

Praying with household child

2005+: Code as Talking with or listening to household children (030106). (Added: March 2005)
2012+: Code as participation in religious practices (140102). (Modified: September 2012).

Looking after/supervising/watching (as a care activity) household children or adults


2020+: Code as Caring for and Helping activities (major category 03 or 04). Exceptions: When respondents report waiting for a ride or to be picked up as part of a travel activity, code the activity as travel related to [purpose]. When respondents report waiting for someone who provides a service to them, such as waiting for a doctor, barber, plumber, or childcare provider, then these activities should be coded to the relevant non-Caring for and helping activities. See Miscellaneous Rule 5 on picking up, dropping off, or waiting for someone activities. (Added: September 2020)

  • 030100 CARING FOR AND HELPING HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

    • 030101 PHYSICAL CARE FOR HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

      Category activity examples

      • Bathing household child
      • Breastfeeding/nursing household baby
      • Breastfeeding/nursing household child (2003)
      • Carrying household child/baby
      • Changing household child's diapers
      • Cuddling household child
      • Cutting household child's hair
      • Drawing a bath for a household child
      • Dressing household child
      • Feeding household child
      • Getting household child ready for bed
      • Getting household child ready for school
      • Getting household child ready to go somewhere
      • Getting household child up
      • Giving household child a bath
      • Giving household child a bottle
      • Helping household child bathe (2004+)
      • Helping household child brush teeth (2004+)
      • Helping household child feed him/herself (2004+)
      • Helping household child get dressed (2004+)
      • Helping household child use the bathroom (2004+)
      • Holding household child
      • Laying out clothes for household child
      • Preparing a shower for a household child
      • Putting household child to bed
      • Rocking household child
      • Soothing household child/baby
      • Tucking in household child
      • Waking household child

    • 030102 READING TO OR WITH HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

      Category activity examples

      • Helping household child read (2004+)
      • Listening to a household child read
      • Reading to household child
      • Reading with household child
      • Teaching household child to read (2004+)

    • 030103 PLAYING WITH HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN, NOT SPORTS

      Category activity examples

      • Dancing with household child (2004+)
      • Entertaining household child
      • Giving household child a piggyback ride
      • Horsing around with household child
      • Playing games w/household child only
      • Playing with household child
      • Singing/dancing with household child (2003)
      • Tickling household child

    • 030104 ARTS AND CRAFTS WITH HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

      Category activity examples

      • Building model planes with household child
      • Helping household child make arts and crafts (2004+)
      • Making holiday decorations w/household child
      • Organizing coin collection with household child

    • 030105 PLAYING SPORTS WITH HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

      Category activity examples

      • Playing basketball with household child
      • Riding bikes with household child
      • Strolling with a household child (2005+)
      • Teaching household child how to play a sport (2004+)
      • Teaching household child to ride a bike (2004+)
      • Walking with a household child (2005+)

    • 030106 TALKING WITH OR LISTENING TO HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

      Category activity examples

      • Fussing at/scolding household child
      • Hearing about household child's day
      • Lecturing household child
      • Listening to household child sing/recite
      • Praying with household child (2007-2011)
      • Singing to household child
      • Singing with household child
      • Talking with household child
      • Telling household child to brush teeth
      • Telling household child to get ready for bed

    • 030107 HELPING OR TEACHING HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN (NOT RELATED TO EDUCATION) (2003)

      Category activity examples

      • Helping household child do something (2003)
      • Showing household child how to do something (2003)
      • Teaching household child manners (2003)
      • Teaching household child proper eating habits (2003)
      • Teaching household child proper hygiene (2003)
      • Teaching household child to cook (2003)
      • Teaching household child to tie shoelaces (2003)

    • 030108 ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING FOR HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

      Category activity examples

      • Helping with parties for household child
      • Making costume for household child
      • Organizing activities for household child
      • Organizing closet for household child (2015+)
      • Packing household child's bag
      • Planning activities for household child
      • Planning events for household child
      • Planning parties for household child
      • Planning play dates for household child
      • Signing household child up for activities
      • Unpacking household child's bag

    • 030109 LOOKING AFTER HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN (AS A PRIMARY ACTIVITY)

      Category activity examples

      • Accompanying household child trick-or-treating (2005+)
      • Accompanying household child visiting Santa Claus (2005+)
      • Checking on household child
      • Keeping tabs on household child
      • Monitoring household child
      • Sitting with household child
      • Supervising household child
      • Supervising household child swimming
      • Watching but not interacting with household child

    • 030110 ATTENDING HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN'S EVENTS

      Category activity examples

      • Accompanying household child trick-or-treating (2004)
      • Accompanying household child visiting Santa Claus (2004)
      • Attending household child's recital
      • Watching household child's baseball practice (2016+)
      • Watching household child's dance class (2016+)
      • Watching household child's karate lesson (2016+)
      • Watching household child's school play
      • Watching household child's sporting event

    • 030111 WAITING FOR OR WITH HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

      Category activity examples

      • Waiting for household child to finish his/her activity
      • Waiting for household child to get ready
      • Waiting for school bus with household child
      • Waiting to pick up household child

    • 030112 PICKING UP OR DROPPING OFF HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

      Category activity examples

      • Dropping off household child at babysitter's
      • Dropping off household child at friend's house
      • Dropping off household child at soccer practice
      • Picking up household child from church
      • Picking up household child from day care
      • Picking up household child from school
      • Putting household child on bus (2016+)

    • 030199 CARING FOR AND HELPING HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN, N.E.C.

      Category activity examples

      • Adopting a child

  • 030200 ACTIVITIES RELATED TO HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN'S EDUCATION

    • 030201 HOMEWORK (HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN)

      Category activity examples

      • Checking household child's homework for completion
      • Helping household child with a school project
      • Helping household child with homework
      • Picking up household child's books/assignments
      • Quizzing household child before a test
      • Reviewing household child's homework
      • Signing household child's homework log

    • 030202 MEETINGS AND SCHOOL CONFERENCES (HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN)

      Category activity examples

      • Attending a PTA meeting
      • Attending household child's back-to-school night
      • Attending household child's parent-teacher conference
      • Attending household child's school open house (2004+)
      • Attending household child's virtual/web/online school meeting (2020+)
      • Emailing teacher of household child (2020+)
      • Meeting w/school psychologist of household child
      • Meeting w/school speech pathologist of household child (2004+)
      • Meeting with guidance counselor of household child (2004+)
      • Meeting with household child's tutor
      • Meeting with principal of household child
      • Observing household child's class
      • Talking to/with household child's tutor
      • Talking with teachers of household child
      • Virtual/web/online meeting with teacher of household child (2020+)

    • 030203 HOME SCHOOLING OF HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN

      Category activity examples

      • Helping household child sign in to virtual/web/online class (2020+)
      • Helping household child set up virtual/web/online class (2020+)
      • Home schooling a household child
      • Planning household child's class schedule (2020+)
      • Sitting with household child during their virtual/web/online class (2020+)
      • Teaching household child long division (2020+)

    • 030204 WAITING ASSOCIATED WITH HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN'S EDUCATION

      Category activity examples

      • Sitting with household adult on telehealth/telemedicine appointment (2020+)
      • Sitting with household child on a telehealth/telemedicine appointment (2020+)
      • Waiting for household child's virtual/web/online class to start (2020+)
      • Waiting to meet with household child's teacher

    • 030299 ACTIVITIES RELATED TO HOUSEHOLD CHILD'S EDUCATION, N.E.C.

  • 030300 ACTIVITIES RELATED TO HOUSEHOLD CHILDREN'S HEALTH

  • 030400 CARING FOR HOUSEHOLD ADULTS

  • 030500 HELPING HOUSEHOLD ADULTS

  • 039900 CARING FOR AND HELPING HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS, N.E.C.