Providing daycare is more of a calling than a career choice,

Posted December 4, 2007

Letters: Day care providers, like other professionals, require adequate fees to cover their costs

After reading a recent opinion regarding a desire for income-based daycare, I am compelled to respond.

Parents have a variety of choices when it comes to caring for children. Schedules can be juggled to ensure one parent is always available. They can enlist grandparents or friends to help. They can hire a babysitter. Or they can enroll their child at a for-profit, licensed group or family daycare center.

For-profit daycare is an industry regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. DHFS mandates staff-to-child ratios, provider education and training, care standards and most operational criteria. All parents should familiarize themselves with the regulations.

Infant care is expensive and difficult to obtain because of mandated staffing ratios. When a provider cares for one or more infants, fewer total children are allowed at the center, which reduces income. Part-time or hourly care is not offered unless the opposing time slot can be filled with another child. A part-time child at a reduced rate takes the place of full-time child, and again, reduces income.

Daycare centers rely on profit to remain operational, and are governed by supply and demand. Providing daycare is more of a calling than a career choice, and after subtracting expenses, most daycare providers earn substantially less than the parents they serve.

And, like any other service, you get what you pay for. If you want cheap, you can find it. If you prefer quality, you need to pay for it. Few would consider asking providers of other services (mechanics, doctors, etc.) for fees based on their ability to pay, and you shouldn’t expect that from your daycare provider.

When you find a quality provider, you should financially support her or him. In all likelihood, they spend more waking hours with your children than you do, and they deserve adequate compensation.

Stuart Schmitz,

Appleton


Providing daycare is more of a calling than a career choice,

This speaks for itself!

No, parenting is more of a calling than a career choice. Daycare is a career..... The arrogance of these people honestly astonish me.