The staggering expense of childcare in the United States is a serious issue that deserves our attention, and it’s no laughing matter. Did you know that in many parts of the country, sending a 4-year-old to preschool now costs more than a year of college for an adult? How did we get here?
Parents once spent years saving up for college tuition, but now they find themselves financially stretched by the time their children reach public school. The saying, “Don’t have kids you can’t afford,” is starting to sound absurd, especially as the costs continue to climb. So how can anyone prepare for such an overwhelming financial commitment?
A recent public service announcement (PSA) sheds light on this reality with a humorous twist, featuring adorable children to soften the blow. In the video, a pint-sized financial advisor tells his young client, “The average cost of childcare is already $11,000 per child, per year. So we need to jump in the game a little quick. If you start saving now, I think in a good 20 years you’ll be able to afford your kids’ childcare comfortably. Well, somewhat comfortably.” He adds, “I’m going to be honest. You’re gonna be barely scraping by.”
Take it from me: our family relies on part-time preschool because it’s the only option we can afford. For four days a week, three hours a day, we pay $400 a month. If our child attended full-time, the bill would skyrocket to $900 monthly. Additionally, our toddler goes to daycare two days a week, costing another $450. To cover full-time daycare and preschool for both kids, we’d need to cough up nearly $2,000 a month—more than our rent!
So, with part-time preschool for one child and part-time daycare for the other, our annual childcare costs exceed $10,000. Thankfully, one child will be starting kindergarten next year, which will allow us to squeeze in a few more days of daycare for the other. But let’s be real: we’re exhausted from having little to no money left at the end of each month.
This PSA is brought to you by Make It Work, an organization advocating for sensible workplace policies and solutions that enable families to thrive. They declare, “America is ready for common sense workplace policies and ambitious solutions that will help people across the country ‘make it work.’”
You can take action by pledging: “Starting today, I’ll only vote for candidates and support elected officials who publicly endorse solutions that help all of us ‘make it work.’” This includes equal pay for equal work, a living wage, paid time off for illness or caregiving, and affordable childcare options. We all deserve more than just a decent living—we deserve a decent life.
For more insights on family planning and home insemination, check out our other blog post on intracervicalinsemination.org. Plus, if you’re considering at-home options, take a look at Make A Mom for reliable insemination kits. And for those curious about fertility, the CDC offers great information on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, the cost of childcare is a pressing concern that many families face today. The humorous PSA highlights a grim reality: childcare expenses can be astronomical, leaving parents feeling financially burdened. We need to advocate for better solutions and support systems to ensure that raising children doesn’t mean sacrificing our financial stability.
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