The suffering of children is unendurable. Years ago, it depressed me nearly more than I could bear. It left a burning in my soul, making me extremely sensitive to it in any form. The recent political use of “Child Care” started grieving my heart.
The more I hear more about Child Care the more it has become a red flag to the potential bull inside me. Four of my great grandchildren spend a major part of their precious life in Child Care every week while their parents work miles away.
America is a psychologized nation. The study of human behavior explains and too often excuses behavior. One has to wonder, Has psychology replaced or subverted the role of religion?
Psychology, on the other hand, has contributed notably to our understanding of child development, particularly reinforcing the Judeo-Christian perception of the importance of early childhood experiences.
Drs. John Bowlman, Anna Freud, Melanie Klein and others scientifically established the lasting influence of consistent loving mothering of infants and young children. Mothers, the “master sculptors” of the child’s sense of self, establish the psychological template upon which all attachments or relationships are patterned. In its simplest terms, “object constancy” or consistency, is a critical requirement in thriving child development. This means the child needs to expect what he or she observes.
Long ago, I learned to appreciate the difference between the ideal and the real world. I am concerned that the necessity of widespread use of Child Care facilities is far from ideal.
I reviewed the matter of Child Care in Virginia, asking (1.) What’s wrong with Child Care in Virginia? and (2.) How can it be corrected?
Child Care is Too Expensive: According to the Economic Policy Institute, Virginia is one of the most expensive states in the country when it comes to Child Care. As of June 2023, the average annual cost of infant care in Virginia is $14,063—that’s $1,172 per month and Child Care for a 4-year-old costs $10,867, or $906 each month. If you have 3 children in Child Care, the nearly $30,000 annual cost is more than half the average working single parent’s salary.
Child Care Providers are Overworked: The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) licenses child day care programs, enforces standards set by the Virginia Board of Education, and sets the staff-to-children ratios. I have interviewed no Child Care providers, but my wife and I reared 4 children, remained functional in the lives of our 4 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren, spanning ages 1 to 70. In my professional opinion, based on a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the current staff to child ratio of 1:8 for 2-year-old children in a group up to 24, and 1:10 for 3-year-olds in a group up to 30 is a formula for undesirable results for children and Child Care providers.
No One Can Replace Mothers: Motherhood is a lifetime assignment. The best Child Care facilities in the world are never as good as a mother. Currently, Child Care facilities are in great demand, make their own rigid rules, tend to be snarky, and some expel children for minor infractions. Their inflexibility too often punishes parents whose employment hours are not synchronized with the facilities hours of operation. Instead of identifying with parents as their able and willing helpers, their lack of empathy increases parental stress unnecessarily.
The Magnitude and Seriousness of Child Care is Unappreciated. As of May 2024, Virginia has 2,369 state and locally regulated family day homes. In 2021, there were 12,998 sole proprietors in Virginia who were paid to care for children. More than 12 million children younger than age five are in some form of Child Care in the United States.
Correcting Child Care: we have the resources, leadership, and the wholesome love of children in the Commonwealth to correct all that is wrong in Child Care.
The strong hands of Corporations, Education, Religion, and Families, grasping each other with the spirit of compassionate devotion, can form an unbreakable circle around Child Care, assuring the best start in a long and meaningful life for every child in Child Care.
Before our fine governor Glenn Younkin is selected for national office let’s ask him to appoint a Child Care Taskforce composed of the best minds and hearts in Virginia to examine how to optimize Child Care that places the needs of children and their parents above all else.
Currently, “the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) licenses child day care programs and enforces standards set by the Virginia Board of Education.”
There are 23 community colleges in Va across 40 campuses that could open Child Care Centers and teach mothering and other needs of children to Child Care Providers.
“There are 8,005 religious organizations and churches in Virginia. Combined, these Virginian religious organizations employ 22,961 people, earn more than $1 billion in revenue each year, and have assets of $3 billion.” Many churches provide food and shelter to the needy. Some churches provide pre-school education. Churches are remarkable resources for Child Care.
Virginia represents a diversified ecosystem of more than 800 corporate headquarters in a broad cross-section of industries including technology, defense, food and beverage, and many others. If called upon, corporations will readily participate in improving Child Care
Caring, creative, inventive, and energetic people from our community colleges, public schools, churches, corporations, and families of children needing excellent Child Care want to help. The need is urgent. The challenge is inviting. From grandmothers to personal assistants to parents working from home, there is no limit to the healing power of motherly love. Each child is truly “God’s irreplaceable gift.”
Robert S. Brown, MD, PHD a retired Psychiatrist, Col (Ret) U.S. Army Medical Corps devoted the last decade of his career to treating soldiers at Fort Lee redeploying from combat. He was a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Education at UVA. His renowned Mental Health course taught the value of exercise for a sound mind.