Updated: November 10, 2016
Originally Published: November 3, 2016
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New insights into childcare in America reveal a troubling reality for parents. It’s no secret that the childcare landscape here is a nightmare, with sky-high costs and a scarcity of quality options. So why is nothing being done about it? Simply put, parents are too busy just trying to get by to advocate for change.
Brigid Schulte, a New York Times best-selling author, sheds light on this issue in an essay for The Huffington Post. In her book, Overwhelmed: Work, Love & Play When No One Has the Time, she discusses the challenges of balancing work and family life, highlighting childcare as a central problem.
According to a report from The Care Index, produced in collaboration with the nonpartisan think tank New America, three key factors determine the success of a state’s childcare system: affordability, quality, and availability. Spoiler alert: not a single state excels in all three areas. This might explain why so many parents are opting to stay home instead of working, as childcare costs can render their salaries almost irrelevant.
Isn’t this supposed to be the “greatest nation on earth”? It’s disheartening. We have a long way to go in supporting families, and the first step is addressing the exorbitant costs of quality care. The average annual expense for full-time care for a child under four is a staggering $9,589, which is more than the average in-state college tuition.
For parents earning minimum wage, that translates to about two-thirds of their income going toward childcare for just one child. It’s no wonder many parents find it financially unfeasible to work after having kids — the math simply doesn’t add up.
To make matters worse, the cost of childcare can consume 85% of the monthly median rent in the U.S. That’s unreal. While quality is hard to quantify, Schulte points out that only 11% of childcare facilities are accredited by either the National Association for the Education of Young Children or the National Association for Family Child Care. I’ve seen this firsthand; the daycare my kids attended, known for its high standards, was one of the most expensive options around.
Then there’s the issue of availability. It’s not just about cost; finding a spot can feel like an Olympic event. When I was looking for care, most centers had lengthy waiting lists. One director even laughed when I mentioned needing care in the next month. The statistics back this up: one in five families surveyed by Care.com reported juggling multiple childcare arrangements weekly, often relying on family to fill in the gaps. At one point, my kids were in different centers simply because the one we liked best couldn’t accommodate both of them at the same time.
In summary, childcare is a significant source of anxiety for working parents. As Schulte noted, it’s not only expensive, but it’s also often unavailable and does not meet quality expectations. Why aren’t we hearing more families rallying for a comprehensive childcare reform? Because they’re too busy navigating this broken system to take action.
Yet, change is essential, and one presidential candidate appears to offer hope for working families — hint: her name doesn’t rhyme with “dump.” Our votes matter now more than ever; let’s not settle for less. Our children deserve better, and so do we.
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Summary:
Childcare in America is prohibitively expensive, costing more than college tuition, and many parents are struggling to find quality care due to high costs and limited availability. The system is failing working families, leaving them overwhelmed and unable to advocate for change.