After researching the history timeline of child care I noticed the continuous need for quality daycare programs with affordable fees and more space availability.
During the war time women and mothers left their children with family, friends or tried to a fence for a neighbour to check on to enter the force work to help their country while the men, husbands and fathers left to go to war. At this time government “Day Nurseries” were established at a cost of 35 cents a day. Which was affordable for low income – paid by government subsidy program, and high income families who could afford to pay. There was still a need for quality and afford daycare for medium income families. Once the war was over the government closed all day nurseries as the government felt there was no longer a need for daycare. How wrong they were!
After the war, women had the choice to stay at home to care for their family or to continue working to earn a living. For some women they had no choice but to work due to their husband’s death during the war, divorce, or the father of the child choose not to stick around. There was still the need for quality and afford daycare for all families.
As women embraced on the idea of having a career with or without a man present in the family there was still a need for quality and affordable daycare.
Due to financial stress and changing economic times it become evident both parents needed to work to afford the basic necessities to raise a family. There was and still is today a need for quality and affordable daycare programs.
Throughout the history timeline of child care mothers felt undervalued when staying at home to raise their children, the government continued to avoid the need of quality and affordable daycare needs, early childhood educators were undervalued and under paid, and still no solution had/ has fully rectified the demanding need to look after our children completely.
Today our government and licensing regulations have provided more quality daycare faculties, however there is still a shortage of programs to help all families in need of care. Many programs have large waiting lists which have been the norm for quite some time.
Financially the government finally took notice – 2017, by making the biggest investment ever to be seen in British Columbia in regards to the need for quality and affordable daycare programs, by providing/increasing funding for daycare programs, daycare fee reduction incentive programs, early childhood educators wage enhancements, and bursaries for early childhood educators to begin or continue their education, recruitment and retention programs supporting early childhood educators, $10 a day daycare, and subsidies available to more families. $1.7 billion over three years, with additional investments in 2018 implemented close to 40 initiative programs enhancing the early childhood educator, education, and daycare facilities sectors. Please let it continue!!!
As amazing as this is, I still have questions and concerns. How are we/the government going to provide more spaces of quality daycare programs? In the first 5 years, a child’s development lays the foundation to their individual life long of learning. How can we support the child when we have no space available in our facility? How do we continue the positive movement evolving to see all early childhood educators recognized as essential “professional” workers and paid according. We are not babysitters! Along with how can all daycare programs/models be governed under licensing regulars for all children to receive the same high quality of care they deserve? The history timeline of child care will be forever continuous!
sheenajece
25 July 2020 — 8:24 pm
Agreed!! The financial steps that have been made by the government are so exciting for this field, but they have only scratched the surface on what is really needed for families and educators. Looking forward to joining the fight for $10 a day, and increased wages!
donnashouse
26 July 2020 — 8:39 pm
So well written and so strong with the sounds of advocacy…?
Juanita Phillips-Bell
27 July 2020 — 5:25 pm
Thank you. Moving forward in a positive motion of taking care of our children, families and early childhood staff is very important to me.
katynic2020
30 July 2020 — 5:12 pm
I agree Juanita, what great questions!
Are we as a province and/or country doing enough to meet the needs for our working families that require quality and affordable childcare?
It appears that some families are financially forced to overlook the “quality” of care their child receives just to meet the “affordability” component of the formula. We know that the care and early learning opportunities “afforded” to children in quality child care settings helps them in their development physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively thus resulting in long term future benefits such as improved school performance leading to a skilled labour force and a decrease in “delinquency” i.e. a well-adjusted member of the community. It also allows family to contribute to the workforce thus supporting the economy. I do agree that the cost to have a child(ren) enrolled in a quality space, that is if you can find one, is high and in some cases the equivalent to paying rent or a small mortgage.
Which is why it makes me ask the question who it is exactly that is responsible to ensure that children get the best start in life that they deserve, is it the parent(s), province or childcare provider? Is there an expectation that childcare becomes more “affordable” to families and the provincial and/or federal governments at the expense of a “low” wage for early childhood educators? The dedication and guidance of a quality early childhood educator benefits both children and families, the labour market and the economy – so why is this profession not compensated fairly, they have living expenses as well! Hardly seems like a topic that should require the support of families and governments who gain to benefit most of the service provided but sadly it does.