Since our last blog post, regarding childcare in the city of Thousand Oaks, we have learned that, according to a city employee, residents of the city are historically, “strongly against family childcare.”
As mentioned in our last post, one of the requirements in Thousand Oaks when a small family childcare business wishes to expand to a large license (allowing them to care for more young children) is to complete a Notice of Application, which informs all neighbors within 500 feet of the residence in which the business operates. If any residents object, the expansion is denied and the small family childcare has lost their $1,234.00 application fee in the process. This risky entry has dissuaded many from ever applying for a larger license from the state. Within the industry, there is the sense that it is true that our community is, “strongly against family childcare.”
We wonder why this is.
We suspect that the reality is not that the wider community is opposed in any way. It’s the outspoken few who shout, “Not in my backyard!” about any changes to the status quo. They have the time and inclination to object to new businesses opening up, old businesses altering their practices, or other changes to the city that the majority of residents may not even take notice of.
Many people do have strong opinions about what is right and good for their neighborhood. We certainly do! We want safe sidewalks, shade trees, parks, crosswalks, and a neighborhood that embraces family childcare as the positive enterprise that it is.
Why is family childcare good for the city of Thousand Oaks, and any other community? We’ve organized our thoughts below.
Good For Children:
Continuity of care is one of the cornerstones of quality in early care and education. In family childcare settings, children will be cared for by a consistent caregiver for many years. The relationships that are established in these programs are tremendously beneficial to children’s brain development. Children who have this solid foundation are set up for success in later schooling and in life.
Related to continuity of care is the lower turnover rate for staff, as compared to center-based early childhood programs.
Due to the lower ratios in family childcare programs, children can feel part of a family and community group. Lower ratios for infants and toddlers in particular means that they can be themselves and have individualized attention and care that is impossible in larger group settings.
Many children in family childcare programs can be cared for in their own cities and neighborhoods. This means less time commuting, which is tremendously beneficial to young children’s health and enjoyment of their lives. Some children are able to walk to their family childcare program in the morning or evening.
Less exposure to illness as children are exposed to a smaller population than in center-based programs.
Being in a neighborhood allows children to learn about their community in hands-on, real life experiences like visiting the grocery store, the neighborhood parks, or elderly neighbors. The connections that can be forged can have a lasting impact on children’s sense of identity as it relates to being part of a broader culture.
Good For Families:
The unique relationships afforded by family childcare programs are not only of benefit to children, but also their parents, guardians, and extended family. Strong relationships like these provide protection against stress and trauma.
Parents and guardians who find high-quality, consistent childcare are able to perform better at work. The peace of mind they experience improves their productivity and overall happiness.
Family childcare is often a more affordable option for families than center-based programs, particularly for infants and toddlers.
Good For Communities:
There is a childcare crisis in the nation. There is not enough childcare available, period, especially for infants and toddlers (the age group most often served by family childcare). When families are able to find affordable childcare, they’re able to maintain the jobs that maintain the economic health of the community.
Family childcare programs are small businesses. We are residents and tax-payers in the community.
Neighborhood programs funnel children into neighborhood schools. For cities like Thousand Oaks who face declining public school enrollment and an aging population, programs like family childcares encourage and support the healthy growth of our community.
We are at home in your neighborhood every day and we have the training to keep a watchful eye on matters of health and safety. We will be the first to report unusual incidents and the first to offer assistance or have available supplies and plans in case of emergencies.
Culturally, the United States has proven time and again that it does not value or prioritize children and families. In expressing strong opposition to family childcare, the city of Thousand Oaks is sending a message that children (the future residents, tax-payers, and caregivers of our community and our planet) are not important. As advocates for children, we struggle to understand the downsides of family childcare.
Please weigh in. Why would you oppose these programs in your backyard?
Have you experienced family childcare? What are the other benefits that we have overlooked mentioning?
Related: "Finding safe, affordable childcare close to home shouldn’t have to feel like winning the lottery, but for too many parents, it does. Family childcare providers help working parents breathe easy," said Laurie Furstenfeld, senior staff attorney of the Child Care Law Center.
"Communities work when children are cared for. Family childcare providers offer warm, nurturing, engaging care, and often meet the cultural and linguistic needs of families," said Keisha Nzewi, director of Public Policy of the CA Resource & Referral Network. SB 234 also affirms California’s commitment to fostering home-based childcare in neighborhood settings that can contribute positively to a child’s emotional, cognitive, and educational development.