A survey was conducted to study discussions of day care for children appearing in periodicals during 1959-81. Surveyed were articles found in the 12 most widely circulated magazines typically identified as being for women. A bibliography was made of the 96 articles appearing in the magazines, as listed in the "Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature." The 93 articles available were then read and classified by major content themes. Graphs and descriptive statistics were used to organize the data. Results indicated that the number of articles on child care topics published per year has tended to increase over time. Typical themes were found to fall generally into six categories relating to child care: finding and choosing a program, effects of centers on children, need for day care, specific program examples, starting a center, and parent-centered issues. It was additionally found that peak years of publication paralleled the political history of child care, although articles did not discuss political events but tended to view day care as a normal advance in society that frees women to pursue personal goals and society's needs. Day care was presented as a positive option for children. (Of the 96 articles identified, 40 appeared in "Parents Magazine.") (RH)