How Child Care Has Evolved Over The Past 10 Years

The opportunity for parents to trust the care of their children to qualified professionals while they go to work has been seen as a godsend in many quarters. The business of child care has evolved to a great extent in the last ten years as more providers have flourished all over the country. The industry has become so important that lately the government has sought to intervene, legislating that tax payers contribute to the cost of child care. Here’s how the industry has changed.
 
Child Care Options have widened

Today, the Albany area has seen a wider variety of care providers. Parents can chose the ones that best fit the age of their children or the stage of their development.

Daycare Centers – Career parents or ordinary working ones should not have any problem finding a daycare in their local community. Daycare centers provide care in small groups and very often is a miniature school setting where children’s growth and learning are stimulated at every stage. Professional caregivers sing, play and provide educational stimulation to pre-kindergarten children in preparation for entry in the larger education system.

Family and In-Home Care Providers – If you would rather that your child’s care remain in a home-like environment, then this option is available. Many in-home care providers have developed in the past decade to accommodate no more than four children under the supervision of an employee. Parents are more comfortable knowing that their children are given individual attention just like they would at home. The drawback is that this care goes unregulated and you bear the responsibility outside of this protection.
 
Employment of More professionals
There have been more discussions on the subject of early childhood interventions prompting child care providers to inject more money into training for their staff, or demanding that whoever they employ come properly trained and are qualified. Staffers are expected to know how to administer first aid and carry out CPR. In many care centers you can find psychologists, special needs educators, social work, professionals who are qualified in speech and language therapies and other areas of child development.
 
The Emergence of Standards for Child protection
One of the things that the American society will be proud of is that the care of children is governed by standards in some states. More recently, the state of Texas has developed the basic standards by which caregiving should be carried out. These standards cover administration, recordkeeping, employees, child to caregiver ratio, care requirements for all stages, safety and health practices, facilities and transportation.
 
Financing of Child Care
The government has also become involved to enhance child care programs. A 2014 legislation was passed that required changes in the quality of child care services in areas such as safety, training in handling emergencies such as Sudden Infant death (SID), and the inspection of child care providers and facilities. In 2016, the Child  care Access to Resources for Early Learning (C.A.R.E) Act was introduced to help working parents balance their family and work. Taxes would help parents fund the high cost of child care. The government noted how parents have been struggling to pay child care costs. Through the legislation, providers could set their rates at reasonable levels to ensure they can deliver quality service to young children. Providers would enhance the quality of their programs through staff upgrade and collaboration with community service providers.
 
Child care services have expanded in more ways than is realized in recent years. Because of this parents have been more trusting to leave their children in their care.