​Is Child Care Worth the Cost?

With the rising cost of living, parents often complain about the soaring child care cost. They often get confused if child care is worth the cost. Well, child care facilities definitely charge a good amount, you feel as if you are paying another mortgage. However, there are various aspects that determine if child care is worth the cost or not. Everyone has their own perspective about high child care cost.
 
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.

Child care costs definitely puts limitation on the budget, but still it is worth it. The working parent can make more money as compared to a stay-at-home parent. Moreover, if a working parent leaves the job, not only will he or she lose the annual salary, but will also have to fight hard to get back the income level they once earned.
 
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.
 
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 inculcates 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, however, 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. Moreover, not forgetting the benefits that child enjoys while in a child care facility.

If you are in Albany and considering the investment in child care for your child, please consider calling TSL Adventures, we would be happy to answer your questions.