This week, child care policy has caught my eye with a very interesting statement:
Second only to the immediate family, child care is the setting in which
early childhood development unfolds for nearly six million children
under age 3.
After learning about economists, scientists, and politicians this week -- I feel like this statement is very relevant to this week's course learning. This statement alone should be enough to get early childhood care programs funded. It is cold hard facts that center's are needed for children to be taken care of. Especially in today's society, living is expensive -- now imagine a growing family, that's twice, triple, or sometimes quadruple the amount of money spent than someone living on their own or a couple. Growing up in New York, one of the most expensive cities in the country, I have seen the struggles first hand of having a family and having to care for children. Many of the children that attend our daycare center are government funded children. This means they are part of a voucher program. However, this voucher program, you literally have to have no paycheck but they send you for job counseling services. The second you make too much money, your voucher is cut and you now have to pay the daycare center out of your own pocket. The minimum wage for living in New York City comfortably is close to making TWENTY DOLLARS AN HOUR. Let's be for real -- not everyone makes that and not every job offers that.
As learning advocates of early childhood education -- how can we change the world we are living in? We need to begin to change these issues and trends that are becoming far too popular. We need to make the world a better place for our children, so our children can continue for the future.
Nicole,
ReplyDeleteI feel like the cost of living continues to go up but the pay tends to stay the same for many people. It's incredible to think that childcare can cost upwards of $10,000 a year for some families, like my own. At least there are some programs that provide assistance but the cost is still expensive.
Nicole,
ReplyDeleteThat statistic about the child care setting is astounding! A lot of children come from unsupportive homes or from families who struggle to provide based on living costs. Those child development programs are necessary for all children, but especially for children who may not have the resources or supportive structures at home. It's unfair to have such high expectations of families but then not provide them with the income or resources to succeed. We need to reevaluate our system and do what's best for our families and children-but how?
Tara