childrearing

American  

[chahyld-reer-ing] / ˈtʃaɪldˌrɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the raising and parenting of children.

   Childrearing extends beyond simple guardianship to nurturing and guidance.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the raising and parenting of children.

   The majority of childrearing responsibilities are shouldered by female family members.

Usage

What does childrearing mean? Childrearing is the raising or parenting of a child or children. The verb rear means to take care of, support, and raise until maturity. To rear children is to raise them. The word rearing can be used as a noun, as in the rearing of livestock. Childrearing refers to the overall process and effort involved with raising children, including the basics, like feeding them and keeping them healthy, as well as other aspects of nurturing them and teaching them how to behave. Childrearing can also be used as an adjective describing such activities, as in When my wife travels for work, I have to take care of all the childrearing responsibilities. The term childrearing can sound somewhat old-fashioned. It’s much more common to say raising children or raising kids or parenting. Example: They say that childrearing is the hardest job you’ll ever love.

Etymology

Origin of childrearing

1840–45; child ( def. ) + rear ² ( def. ) (in the sense “to take care of to maturity”) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

We need to stop framing decisions about childrearing as simply another cost-benefit analysis and present young people with a more beautiful vision of what family life can be and do for the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Many women cite the high cost of childrearing, difficulty in continuing on their career, gender discrimination and not wanting to get married as key factors for not wanting children.

From Reuters • Aug. 23, 2023

To them, her personhood and agency become secondary to her childbearing and childrearing role.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2023

“We cannot waste any time on the policies for children and childrearing support,” he said.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 23, 2023

We have to face the fact that childrearing and education are being transferred from family to institutions meant to produce the educated person.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Nadin, Mihai