Thursday, January 18, 2007
To Day Care or Not To Day Care...
Here is an interesting article about the dilemma many parents face on whether to send their children to child care or to stay home with them. Some important facts about the decision:
Here is an interesting article about the dilemma many parents face on whether to send their children to child care or to stay home with them. Some important facts about the decision:
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau's latest report, 63 percent of the 18.5 million children under age 5 were in some form of child care in 2002. The typical child that year spent 32 hours a week in child care.
- The U.S. Department of Labor's Web site on day care reports that it is one of the fastest-growing industries in the nation. But 45 percent of child-care workers have a high school degree or less, and the average wage for these workers in 2004 was $9.76 an hour. Some experts say this should raise concerns about the industry because of the transient nature of the work force.
- The average annual cost for a pre-schooler in full-time day care in Massachusetts is a nation-high $9,628, according to a 2005 study by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. In comparison, New York's average is $8,530, and Vermont's is $6,537.
- The same study said that, over the past 30 years, labor-force participation by women with children has increased substantially. In 1975, 40 percent of women with children younger than 6 held a paid job. In 2004, the figure was 62.2 percent. Currently, 70.7 percent of all women with children work.
- A government-sponsored study — conducted in 10 cities over 10 years — determined that quality day care can give children an academic edge, improving language and cognitive skills.
// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 7:29 PM 
