Is Child Care Worth The Cost?

Taking your child to a child care center equates to a certain cost. This should not, however, be a major concern as the child is growing up and soon you will be out of that category. While some parents prefer to stay at home with their kids until they reach school going age, this might not be possible for parents who are working on a tight budget in raising their family up.

The best option they have is to take their kids to a child care center and continue with whatever they do to bring bread on the table. To make a concise decision on whether to take your child to a daycare program or raise them yourself you have to consider a variety of variables.
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These are the factors which you need to consider in determining whether “is child care worth the cost or not?”  Learning social skills is a very important thing for the child. The more a child interacts with the peers, the more social skills they develop. Since at home you might not have the time to engage your child in various activities it is worth taking him to a day care center.

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Cost of Child Care
Many working parents often consider child care costs as their biggest money worry that keeps them working. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the actual child care costs have almost doubled in the last twenty five years. Though, the cost may vary for different places. Most parents cannot avoid child care expenses particularly if they don’t have a friend or a relative to help them. And if they do have a relative or a friend to help them, they cannot just leave their child with them while they are out for their work because even the relatives cannot afford to spend their time looking after somebody else’s children, they have to work too.

Here is what it looks like to employ a care service for the week in 2016

• For just 15 hours of after school care -  $214.05
• To leave your child at a child care center -  $196.00
• To employ the service of a nanny -  $556.80
• Stay at a family child care center -  $181.00
• Au Pair service -  $360.00

When families have to spend such huge amounts to employ caregiving for their children something has to give. But would they do otherwise? Families will still go beyond measure to spend on their children. Here is how it is playing out.

• Persons are saving less. Families are waiting longer to have children. The aim is to be able to save more to be able to afford caregiving. However, saving more for child service means putting away less for retirement and possibly other important personal good. Depending on the amount the job is paying, some persons may not even be saving anything.
• Job changing decisions are often made. Parents are changing jobs for higher paying ones to afford their children’s care. Similarly, they look for flexible work schedules or opt for part time employment in order to lessen the cost of child care. Of such, there is worry about their job future. While some persons worry about their financial future, others are more concerned about the security of their jobs.

In a family where both parents are working but are facing bills for child services, the consideration may be for one party to forego their job and mind the kids at home. When the costs are added up and the balance on your take home pay seems not to be adding up, this may be the first option to consider. If any at all your budget cannot afford the cost, then you have all right to consider your options.
 
However, consider how your career will be affected. How will you be able to enter the job market in the future? You may need to upgrade your skills. It will be even more competitive out there as every year greater skills are required to do the same job. There will be younger and more work savvy persons to compete with. Being out of a job five or ten years will mean your connections are no longer around. Also, what if there is an opportunity for a promotion or a pay rise down the road? Consider also that children do not require child care services for all that long a time. Therefore, if there is any way that you can hold out and keep your job, do so.

There are other options that a parent can choose to avoid child care cost. Well these options do not come with high quality. For example:

• Hiring a nanny.
• Depending on family members for free child care.
• Adjusting the work hours with partner so that one partner is at home for the child, hence saving on child care cost.
• Contract for part time child care.
• Leave the job forever.

 
Although these options seem feasible, you have to compromise on the quality or on your job. What a high quality childcare facility offers your child is far better than these affordable child care options mentioned above.

Whichever service you employ, the cost of child care giving will work out to be a huge expense. Parents possibly could find services that are cheaper. However many stretch their pockets to great length to get the best service for their children. Besides a caring and safe environment, you may look for services that will provide or enhance your child’s development and learning. Parents are willing to pay more for a wider variety in service, for example teaching a second language, yoga or martial art. Greater expense also comes in how a facility is retrofitted to enhance care and security for the children in their care. A fitting example is the installation of video cameras to observe all activities. The au pair who can cook nutritious meals for the kids will no doubt demand more for their service. Again, there are those parents who will go above and beyond to pay for a service that will teach their child how to use technology. The other option you might have to develop your child social skills is by joining parent-child classes, visiting your neighbors who have children or inviting children over to your house to play with your kids.

Advantages of a child care center.

• You free your time for other activities.
• The child cognitive skills are developed.
• The child develops social skills.
• The child is well prepared to attend school.
• The child develops the languages and communication skills effectively.
• Child care support saves you the stress of wondering whom you will leave your child with today.
• Child care facility offers a refreshing place for your child. No matter whether he/ she is a school going kid or not. New environments and surroundings are always fun to be around.
• Parental advice is offered in this childcare centers, and you might just discover some of the parenting tricks you had not known of before.

Generally most parents think that if schools look after their kids for free, then why not a child care facility. However, they fail to understand that a good child care facility instills those habits and knowledge that will mold the child into a better adult. Small things like tying a shoe lace, or saying some alphabets or learning arts and crafts, etc., may not seem a big deal now, but it will definitely be greatly meaningful in future. Though the question still remains if child care is worth the cost? For a middle class family, it is tough for them to manage the high cost. But keeping other things in mind, they can still manage to pay for child care because they can earn more while on job than sit at home and look after the child. This is in addition to the benefits that child enjoys while in a child care facility.

Finding value in child care
Like every other parent, you want the best for your children. Perhaps, that is the reason why you are in search of an excellent daycare facility in Albany for your kid. But it is wise to remember that the most expensive isn’t necessarily the best, at least as far as finding the best daycare for your child is concerned. First and foremost, ensure that the daycare is duly licensed and meets all government-imposed standards for day care. Secondly, ensure that the facility has employed qualified caregivers who will teach your children well. The caregivers should be responsible and able to provide the kids with the direction they need to grow. Thirdly, make sure that the environment is right for the child.

So is child care worth the cost?

Is child care worth the cost? The cost of child care depends on the individual parents. It truly is a case-by-case basis. But if one were to be objective and analyze the benefits of child care, it would be safe to say that it is worth every penny, if only you can afford it.

Of course, there are alternatives for those who cannot afford child care. If you find that it is too expensive for you to comfortably afford it, then it is not worth it.

But in most cases, yes, child care is worth all the cost it can consume as the age at which a child attends the child care facility is the most significant in his/her life. This is more specifically relevant to small kids below 2 years. So much development in their organs is taking place and taking them to a knowledgeable care giver is the best thing you can do to your child. She knows exactly how to handle the child and identify any abnormality in growth which you as a parent might not be able to see.