Myths about Child Care
Highlighted in the March 1998 issue of CDF (Children's Defense Fund) Reports, this short piece effectively examines ten myths about child care. The assumptions and myths include:
- There is no child care problem
- All parents are satisfied with their children's care
- The quality of child care doesn't have much impact on a child's development
- Child care is not a problem for most families because significant numbers of children are living in homes with a stay at home mother.
- Most parents can use free care provided by relatives or friends.
- Lack of child care is not a barrier to work
- Parents can always find enough quality child care
- Welfare reform won't increase demand for child care
- Child care proposals call for big government solutions, such as government-run child care centers of for all children to be in "institutionalized" care.
- Businesses can pay for child care.
By developing effective responses to each of these myths, the document provides policy makers as well as parents and educators with pertinent information to understand the changing landscape of childcare and early education (Vol. 19 #3). Contact
Children's Defense Fund for more information.
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