Your family's childcare needs depend on a number of factors; depending on the schedule of both parties involved, care can come from friends or neighbors, babysitters, au pairs and nannies, child care facilities or from family providers themselves.
Centers are generally organized to group children by age and are overseen by a director. Centers may be privately owned, part of a chain or run by schools, non-profits and faith-based organizations.
The Job
Child care providers may find employment in various environments, from family, friend and neighbor care, daycare centers, YMCAs, churches, non-profit organizations and school-age programs to family homes.
Employers can partner with them to offer benefits that boost employee productivity and morale - such as offering tax-compliant child care stipends - that contribute to employee happiness and productivity.
Working in childcare services is an exciting career choice for those possessing the right set of skills, ethics and commitment. It can be particularly fulfilling to watch children develop year after year as they reach developmental milestones.
Childcare can be an arduous job that demands stamina and physical strength. Typically it's a 24-hour-a-day role requiring early mornings, late nights and weekends of work - not to mention parents trying to balance work with caring for their own children! For this reason alone working in child care services may prove challenging if one is unprepared.
Training Requirements
Child care services offer various solutions for families. Nannies may provide flexibility and are appropriate for households with unpredictable schedules; child care centers usually maintain set hours.
Many state programs assist low-income households afford child and elder care; however, state grants alone cannot cover the full costs associated with long-term services and supports. Therefore, increasing public grant investments to make child care more cost-effective.
Raising wage standards for child care workers makes economic sense. Many care workers cannot afford to support themselves and their families, leading to high turnover that compromises child care quality and places additional costs on employers (EPI 2021; Thrupkaew 2021). Expanding apprenticeship programs modeled on Philadelphia Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program can also help boost wages while decreasing worker churn. This approach is especially valuable in infant/toddler care settings where skilled training and specialization are key elements.
Working Conditions
Not only are many workers subject to low wages, they often lack health benefits or experience job instability - this is especially true of home care workers and child care providers, whose work can be both physically and emotionally draining while fitting around a family's schedule.
Low wages and working conditions are in part attributable to systemic racism, sexism, and xenophobia; they're also reflective of government grant programs (and private sources of funding) being the only means by which low-income households can access care services.
At this critical juncture in society's development, it is imperative that public institutions invest in care by actively advocating for stronger labor protections and wage standards. Research shows that families benefit when their young child has secure care - research from Ludden (2016) supports this conclusion. Higher home care wages could help stabilize workforce levels while improving child outcomes; reduced turnover could save costs for care facilities while making them more cost-efficient in hiring markets.
Benefits
Employee child care benefits are an effective way to boost company morale and attract top talent. Many parents struggle with finding balance between work and home life; having access to quality child care benefits gives employees peace of mind knowing their children are receiving quality care while freeing them up to focus solely on their careers.
Employers that offer backup child care services keep a list of pre-screened nannies and babysitters ready for employees who require emergency childcare on short notice, providing a cost-effective solution that eliminates stress related to finding care on short notice.
Families seeking subsidized child care can apply by calling 311. Once approved, families can select from various programs to meet their needs, including visiting facilities to determine which program best fits them. They can also call 311 to report unsafe and unsanitary locations they find.
