In the United States, the rising costs of childcare have reached a level that’s both astonishing and disheartening. In many regions, it now costs more to enroll a 4-year-old in preschool than it does to send an adult to college. How did we arrive at this point?
Parents traditionally set aside years for college savings, but now many find themselves financially exhausted long before their children reach public school age. While the adage “Don’t have kids you can’t afford” once held weight, it’s becoming increasingly ludicrous as costs continue to soar. How does one even begin to prepare for such an expense?
A new public service announcement (PSA) cleverly employs adorable children to convey the serious message about the exorbitant costs of childcare. “The average annual cost of childcare is $11,000 per child. So, we should probably start planning now,” advises a pint-sized financial guru to a client who appears to be around four years old. “If you begin saving today, you might just afford your kids’ childcare in about 20 years. Well, maybe just barely.”
“My honest opinion? You’re going to be scraping the bottom of the barrel.”
I can personally relate to this struggle. My son attends part-time preschool, costing us $400 monthly for four days a week, three hours a day. Full-time would set us back $900 monthly. Meanwhile, our three-year-old is in daycare two days a week, adding another $450 to our bills. Altogether, to cover full-time daycare and preschool for both kids, we’d need to fork out $1,950 monthly—more than our rent.
So, for a few hours of part-time preschool and daycare, we’re looking at over $10,000 a year. Next year, one child will start kindergarten, allowing us to afford an extra day of daycare for the other. However, with the haunting thought of zero dollars left at the month’s end, we hesitate to extend those hours.
This PSA comes from an organization called Make It Work. Their mission is to advocate for practical workplace policies that support families in navigating these challenges. Their statement declares, “America deserves common-sense solutions to help everyone make it work, because it’s 2023, and dedicated workers should have more than just a decent living—they deserve a decent life.”
You Can Take Action!
Consider this pledge:
“Starting today, I will only support candidates and elected officials who back initiatives that help us all make it work:
- Equal pay for equal work
- A living wage
- Paid time off for illness or family care
- Affordable childcare and elder care for families in need
Hardworking individuals like us deserve more than just a decent living—we deserve a decent life.”
This article originally published on May 12, 2016, but its message remains relevant.
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In summary, the escalating costs of childcare are no laughing matter. As families navigate these financial hurdles, it’s essential to advocate for policies that support parents and caregivers, ensuring that everyone can provide a decent life for their loved ones.