What does “quality” childcare mean? And
what is it “worth” to the child and society? Quality childcare goes way
beyond keeping our children protected and unharmed.
 The care babies get has dramatic and long-term effects on how they
develop and learn, how they react to the world around them, and how they
cope with stress as children and adults.
Science tells us holding, cuddling, and talking in the early years
actually affect how a child’s brain grows. Loving and supportive care
predisposes the brain to handle stress and control emotions. Reading and
singing with children every day helps brain development too.
Studies have found that children participating in quality childcare
programs have enhanced language, math, and social skills; are held back
in school less frequently; and have a reduced need for costly
intervention. In fact, a child’s early environment has an enormous
impact on who and what the child will become as an adult.
And who and what children become as adults not only affects their
productivity and their interpersonal relationships, it defines the very
nature of our society. Therefore, the quality of childcare matters when
parents have to leave their children to go to work. But the implication
in our society is that childcare is subsidiary to working. In fact,
raising our children is our most important job. Unfortunately, because
raising our children “earns” little or no money, it is not given its
true value. Nor are childcare workers paid their true due.
We claim that children are invaluable and that the future is in the
hands of our children. But do we, in fact, put our money where our
children are?
We should.
We must ensure that every family has quality, affordable care
available to it, and we must pay caregivers enough to attract quality
personnel. That would reflect that we truly value our children.
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