Who benefits from universal child care?
When we say child care for all, we mean everyone. Every person in our country would benefit from a free, universal child care system.
Kids
Children are the foundation of a growing and thriving society, and we all benefit when they can grow up with the best opportunities. We can come together to make sure that all young children get the care and social and emotional development they need from highly trained child care providers or loved ones like family and neighbors. If we are going to invest in our country’s future, we need to invest in Child Care for All.
Parents of young kids
As a parent, you want the best possible start for your kids, which includes consistent access to child care that supports their social and emotional development. So many parents, especially those with young kids, are under a ton of pressure. Having access to reliable, free child care could change their lives. Parents would be able to work consistently, which would help them make ends meet. But access to child care could also help them have time to take care of themselves too. Parents shouldn’t have to do everything alone. Parents of young kids need Child Care for All.
Parents of older kids
Child Care for All includes kids through age 13, who may still need care before or after school or other times when parents may be working or need extra help. But even if your kids are old enough to no longer need child care, as a parent, you have experienced how challenging and expensive our current child care system is. You know better than most just how life-changing a free, universal child care system would be for our whole country. When children can thrive and families can succeed, our communities are stronger, and the whole country benefits.
People who aren’t parents
When families have access to child care, our whole society thrives. Child Care for All means your neighbors, friends, and colleagues will be able to work, care for their families, rest, and participate in your community. Caregiving is hard work and impossible to do without a village. That village should include child care that is culturally relevant, available, accessible, and joyful. Our communities are stronger when we take good care of our children and each other.
Grandparents
As grandparents, we want what’s best for our kids and grandkids—and if we are being relied on to provide routine child care, we ought to be compensated just like other child care providers. Because child care isn’t funded like other public infrastructure, many grandparents are finding themselves dipping into savings and retirement to help cover child care bills—some are even working part-time to help ensure their grandchildren have care. The government should be funding child care the same way it funds public schools, roads, and libraries. Child Care for All would help every generation thrive.
Child care providers and early childhood educators
Parents trust child care providers with what matters most—their children—but too many of those workers are among the lowest paid workers in our country. Many skilled child care providers can earn more working retail than they can shaping the future of our youth. That’s why we need a universal child care plan that includes good wages and benefits for providers. Their work is essential to families, the economy, and the future of our country.
Employers
Ensuring families have their basic needs met is the job of our elected leaders, not small business owners. Because child care is the work that makes all other work possible, businesses and employers would benefit from a free, universal child care system. And families who have access to free child care are able to financially support and shop at the businesses in their communities.
