It’s been a few decades since I needed to worry about daycare, but it seems to be getting more expensive, less available, and less predictable. Many parents are forced to work from home, either occasionally or on an ongoing basis, due to a lack of child care. This may or may not sit well with their employers, depending on their policies on remote/hybrid work.
Most of us have been on a Zoom call where a child photobombs the meeting or is possibly screaming in the background. The photobombs can be entertaining. The screaming, not so much. So working remotely doesn’t always mean no need for daycare. A lot depends on your schedule, responsibilities, age, and behavior of your children. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all model for every person. And regardless of what your need might be for child care, it’s possible you may not be able to take advantage of it at a cost you can afford. This is where parents are forced to make choices about who they work for, how they work when they work, and if they are even able to work at all. It just highlights a broken system.
Creating a sustainable model for child care in the future requires a comprehensive approach that addresses various factors contributing to the current challenges. Are people going back to the office, or are more people working remotely or hybrid? Every area is different. Many daycare operators just can’t keep up.
Dwindling Numbers
The number of daycare centers in the United States continues to drop. From 2019-2024 it has lost about 1.3% per year. Birth rates have been steadily declining since 2007, but the volatility of the past 5 years has made daycare centers unpredictable for both parents and staff. When little Johnny tests positive for Covid, multiple kids are sent home and everything gets shut down for a few days. It’s hard enough planning around your own kid’s illnesses and injuries. Now your ability to have daycare could be dependent on someone you don’t even know. And as an added bonus, you still pay for the service even if you don’t use it. If it happens too often, people look elsewhere. And then you have acuity issues for licensing. They can only have a certain number of kids for the staff that they have.
It’s not just about the number of daycare centers. Some families have special needs, and flexibility is a key factor. Recognizing the diverse needs of families, childcare services should offer flexible scheduling options, including extended hours and part-time care. Additionally, ensuring accessibility for children with disabilities and those from marginalized communities is essential for promoting equity and inclusion. Unfortunately, specialized services and flexibility come at a cost. Most daycare providers aren’t set up to offer these services.
Daycare Staff Retention
People get into daycare because they love working with kids. They tend to get out because of the low pay. Fixing this is a double-edged sword. You want better-qualified people watching our kids, but that means paying them more. Which in turn means more for the parents. Still, this is a first step in improving the daycare model. Enhancing the professionalism of childcare providers through comprehensive training programs and ongoing professional development opportunities is crucial. This includes training on early childhood development, health and safety protocols, and inclusive practices.
Childcare providers play a vital role in early childhood development, yet they are often underpaid and lack benefits. Establishing fair compensation structures and providing benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave can improve retention rates and attract qualified professionals to the field. But in keeping staff, you may be losing customers based on cost. It takes a broader focused solution because the economics of a daycare center might not work compared with other traditional businesses.
Public-Private Partnerships
Creating a public-private partnership is generally not something you see from your small-town daycare center. It’s usually viewed as a single business entity. Ideally, communities must take a broader view and work with business owners to provide daycare services. Governments should prioritize investments in childcare infrastructure, including facilities and equipment, to ensure safe and conducive environments for children. This investment should also encompass technology upgrades to enhance communication and operational efficiency.
Collaboration between government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector entities can leverage resources and expertise to expand access to affordable child care. Public-private partnerships can also facilitate the development of innovative solutions and best practices.
Governments should increase funding for childcare subsidies to make quality child care more affordable for families. Additionally, implementing sliding-scale fee structures based on income can ensure that low-income families have access to quality child care without financial strain. With programs like Head Start potentially experiencing major funding cuts, communities need to look at other options.
Next Steps
Communities need to start looking at emerging work patterns in their town and see how their daycare options are meeting their needs. Ideally, subsidies or community partnerships should focus on the daycare provider itself, rather than the individual income situations of the parents. Most programs don’t work that way, but viewing daycare more as a community service, like a library, may result in a more sustainable model.
By looking at the changing nature of the workforce, a more sustainable model for child care can be developed. This will ensure that daycare centers are more affordable and economically viable. It will also ensure that all children have access to high-quality, affordable, and reliable care that supports their healthy development and future success. It might even cut down on the photobombing on your next Zoom call.
