Looking at the extensive information on child care since 1850, has been a huge I opener for me. I new that day care was in high demand back in 1990 when I first opened my day care, but I did not know the history of what women went through to find child care during the war. I was surprised to find out that some mothers would tie their children to a post while they went to work. Unbelievable! It was interesting how the Federal government funded working moms with $35 cents per day for child care cost. Then closing day cares when the husbands retuned from the war. Not making things any easier for the mothers that lost their husbands and had to continue to work to provide for their families.

I am amazed as how the need for child care continues to grow year after year. It is nice to see how many people have been advocating for many years for the government to help families with funding towards child care cost. Nowadays, both parents have to work to be able to stay afloat. Unfortunately, parents are facing a lack of child care spaces and are forced to stay at home because only one of them can work while the other is staying home to take care of the child. It is clear that this has been a problem for many years. Unfortunately, this pandemic has not made it any easier for parents to find child care.

It is also great to learn that Early Child Care Education has been encouraged, promoted and advocated to increase the quality of child care settings.

However, I feel that the government could increase funding a bit more not only to help families, but to keep Early Childhood Educators in the workforce. ECE’s are having to find work outside of the child care sector because they are not paid enough.

By looking at the child care history, not a lot has changed in terms of the lack of child care spaces and ECE’s been underpaid, then and now.

I wonder if we are ever going to see a balance in regards to having more child care spaces available and ECE’s  being seen as important and valuable individuals.