April 24 is designated as Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.
Most of us know that the economy has changed drastically since we were all children - certainly since I was! Families are far more likely to have both working parents, and unless they're very creative with their job schedules, must rely on some form of child care. Some are able to use relatives - thank god for Grandma! But many North Carolinian children - 508,867 during the month of March 2008 - are enrolled in regulated child care. According to the same report, there are 47,260 people, mostly women working in regulated child care in North Carolina. (When I say "regulated child care", I mean that the facility is licensed by the state and must meet regulations specified in state law GS110. )
But what if every day turned into Take Your Child to Work Day? What if the Child Care you've counted on disappeared?What if Child Care Providers went on strike? What then? What would you do? Why would it happen?
Well, first let's look at what would happen. At first, parents would be angry, but they'd take their children to work, because they had to. Some would take sick time, if they had it. Some would make arrangements with relatives. But in the factories, retail stores, and offices all over the state, children would be underfoot, with crayons, i-pods, and the complaint that parents have heard ever since there were children to say it: "I'm bored!" At the sheriff's office, the doctor's office, the hospital, there they'd be, the little angels, just waiting to learn from you and help you do your job. Again, today.
Some families might choose to have one family member stay home with the children, and lose the paycheck. Some employers may not give the choice, they may just terminate the relationship of someone whose children are constantly at the office. (As a side note,neither an office, a factory, nor a store are appropriate environments for a young child to spend all day in.)
But the real question is why would the nearly 48,000 child care providers in NC decide to go on strike? It might not be obvious to you at first glance, but let me give you some hints.
The next time you drop your child off or pick your child up at your child care center, or family child care home, thank your provider especially for all of the work she does for your family.
If handled properly, this can be a rewarding experience for parents and children, and I highly encourage you to participate if you can. You can find further information here.
Designed to be more than a career day, the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® program goes beyond the average “shadow” an adult. Exposing girls and boys to what a parent or mentor in their lives do during the work day is important, but showing them the value of their education, helping them discover the power and possibilities associated with a balanced work and family life, providing them an opportunity to share how they envision the future and begin steps toward their end goals in a hands-on and interactive environment is key to their achieving success. Each year, development of new interactive activities and partnerships will assist us in taking girls and boys to the future they dream of.
Most of us know that the economy has changed drastically since we were all children - certainly since I was! Families are far more likely to have both working parents, and unless they're very creative with their job schedules, must rely on some form of child care. Some are able to use relatives - thank god for Grandma! But many North Carolinian children - 508,867 during the month of March 2008 - are enrolled in regulated child care. According to the same report, there are 47,260 people, mostly women working in regulated child care in North Carolina. (When I say "regulated child care", I mean that the facility is licensed by the state and must meet regulations specified in state law GS110. )
But what if every day turned into Take Your Child to Work Day? What if the Child Care you've counted on disappeared?What if Child Care Providers went on strike? What then? What would you do? Why would it happen?
Well, first let's look at what would happen. At first, parents would be angry, but they'd take their children to work, because they had to. Some would take sick time, if they had it. Some would make arrangements with relatives. But in the factories, retail stores, and offices all over the state, children would be underfoot, with crayons, i-pods, and the complaint that parents have heard ever since there were children to say it: "I'm bored!" At the sheriff's office, the doctor's office, the hospital, there they'd be, the little angels, just waiting to learn from you and help you do your job. Again, today.
Some families might choose to have one family member stay home with the children, and lose the paycheck. Some employers may not give the choice, they may just terminate the relationship of someone whose children are constantly at the office. (As a side note,neither an office, a factory, nor a store are appropriate environments for a young child to spend all day in.)
But the real question is why would the nearly 48,000 child care providers in NC decide to go on strike? It might not be obvious to you at first glance, but let me give you some hints.
- In 2003, the mean income for child care providers in NC was $8.00 per hour. I'll do the math for you; it's $16.640 before taxes are taken out.This info comes from a Workforce study performed by Child Care Services Association(CCSA).
- In 2006, nationwide, the mean income for child care providers was $9.05 per hour, or $18,820. From the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- In 2006, the NC Justice Center reported that the standard living income wage for North Carolina was $12.32 per hour.
- In 2003, CCSA reported that only 14% of child care centers offered fully paid health insurance to its employees.
- Teachers working in child care centers rarely get paid planning periods the way their counterparts in public schools do.
- Teachers working in child care are expected often to work with little or no supplies and prepare children for schools that are, so far, not ready for them.
- And, oh, yeah, the dirty diapers.
The next time you drop your child off or pick your child up at your child care center, or family child care home, thank your provider especially for all of the work she does for your family.
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