Why is care important for a child

Early Childhood Education and Care ECEC has become the norm in many European and North American countries, where most children of 3 years and upwards attend a regulated early education service. In addition, early childhood services represent much more than a drop-off location for working parents, but play an important role in child development by giving children an opportunity to engage in a range of educational and social activities.

The increasing number of children in formal ECEC is largely attributed, on the one hand, to the convergence of research showing the positive influence of early education on school readiness and, on the other, to the rise in maternal employment, although even children of stay-at-home mothers are likely to attend some type of child care.

In the U. Despite the increasing take-up of early development services, their quality is frequently low because of the costs associated with maintaining quality. High quality is characterized by a qualified, well-paid and stable staff, low adult-child ratios, and efficient management. Research suggests, however, that much formal child care in the United States is of weak quality and is associated with some modest but long-term developmental risks, especially when very young children below the age of 18 months or so spend long hours in such services.

Adverse outcomes are not merely by-products of low-quality child care but stem also from stress caused by separation, which suggests that parental leaves should be extended to one year, which is the increasing practice in European countries.

There are many differences in the organization of early education and care systems. In most OECD countries, early education for children years is a shared responsibility between the family and the state and is often free and fully subsidized.

The situation is more mixed where ECEC for children under 3 years is concerned: many governments generously subsidise and support parents to access child care, but others see child care as primarily a parental responsibility. A laissez-faire approach to young children and families, characterized by weak state support and the predominance of private provision, can produce significant inequalities in access.

The recruitment of migrant care providers in child care can also generate imbalances in the roles played by states, families, and markets in the child care sector in both North and South.

Governments that see care and education as a public responsibility increasingly integrate their care and education systems and are able, in consequence, to ensure better regulation, more equitable access and provide higher quality services to all children. The current discourse on choice for parents needs realistic assessment.

Although parents are assumed to be free to choose the facilities they deem most appropriate for their child, access to high quality care is, in fact, often limited and unequal. This is a particular challenge in systems dominated by private for-profit provision. In short, while early childhood care and education may be viewed as a central plank of inclusive policy, the reality is that these services serve, in too many countries, to widen the education gap. Child care is a labor intensive business.

As such, one of the largest start-up and ongoing expenses for child care programs is staffing —salaries and benefits of workers in the program. This expense is also the most critical for the success of the business. Programs need well-trained educators to care for children and they typically need to maintain certain teacher-child ratios in order to meet state licensing requirements and stay in business. If a program is closed and does not have revenue coming in, they will need to furlough or lay off their teachers, shrinking the supply of teachers and other staff.

Without staff—the most essential piece of a child care business—providers will not be able to re-open their doors and serve children as the economy rebounds. Without revenue coming in, programs may not be able to cover these expenses and could close down altogether. The economic security and livelihood of these women will be jeopardized if we do not shore up the child care providers who employ them or their own child care businesses that they operate.

Access to child care increases labor force participation, especially for women. Research shows that mothers are more likely to work when they have access to stable child care and have help affording it. For example, the U. Child care is a necessity for all parents and caregivers, but especially for more than 21 million working mothers , who are more likely to be primary caregivers than fathers.

I started mine at 6months was very nervous and worried about leaving him but they were very helpful, supportive and make the transition easy. Would recommend to anyone. Great place and people. You all have a very special place in our kids life they flourished at your service.

The new boards look great! As always we really the appreciate the effort you and your team put in to making the centre look and feel welcoming. We would like to thank the team for doing such a wonderful job and look forward to watching Anoushka develop at the centre. Thank you so much for the love and care you have shown our family in looking after pepper over the last 12 months. He has grown up there, made lots of friends and has developed into beautiful, independent boy which has made it an easy transition to Kindy.

Ned is known by each educator and while he has built very close bonds with educators he spends most of his days with, he is still very happy in the care of all the staff. I believe the environment is secure, stimulating and nurturing for Ned. The leadership, the teachers, the values, the playground, the curriculum, the responsiveness to any of my questions or requests.

It is a fun, loving, caring place that definitely prepares your child for Kindergarten. Have put my kids in many child care centres but have not seen the love and care like that they receive from Little peoples Place in Spearwood. I travel 15min just to leave my kids in the care of these amazing people. The two major purposes of early childhood programs are care and education. A majority of families today use childcare while they are employed or engaged in other activities.