dmallord
Humble Hobbit
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2020
- Posts
- 2,934
There is nothing wrong with extended family help. However, the question posed to Vance was not the temporary scenario you described.
Here in the USA, the childcare issue isn't about an occasional need scenario you reference. It is about the everyday childcare needed so a working parent can leave the front door to support a family. The days of stay-at-home moms are pretty much gone in America. Young children need care, and the costs in the USA for daycare centers or private care sitters are taking an inordinate amount of the family income.
The US income tax has provisions for a tax credit for children that the government provides to offset some of those expenses. Rising material costs and inflation are squeezing incomes, and housing costs and similar expenses are rising. The Federal Tax Credit has not kept pace.
According to a 2023 study, the average annual cost of child care for one infant in the U.S. is approximately $10,000 to $17,000 (depending on location). In some states like Massachusetts, it can exceed $20,000. For parents with more than one child, these numbers quickly become unmanageable.
Childcare expenses can account for 10-30% of a family’s income. This creates a huge financial strain for many working families, especially single-parent households. This is far more than what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines as affordable (7% of family income).
Many parents face challenges beyond cost, such as long waitlists for quality care. Rural areas may have limited options, forcing parents to drive long distances or pay even more for care.
High child care costs sometimes force one parent—often the mother—to stay home because the cost of care outweighs the income they would bring in by working. This has long-term effects on the parent’s career and family finances.
How Vance answered the question was disingenuous. His vacuous answer didn't address the need of childcare in America.
If I were a parent, I would hope for a more thoughtful solution to the childcare crisis. Vance suggested relying on grandparents or relatives, but the reality is that is not a viable solution. That $10,000 to $17,000 is more than the average cost of in-state college tuition! For many parents, this can amount to 20% or more of their household income, making saving or investing in their futures nearly impossible.
Even if workers have grandparents nearby, they may be unable to provide full-time care. The same goes for many families who don’t have the luxury of extended family support. Parents need policies that address the root causes of this affordability crisis, such as increased childcare subsidies, more tax credits for families, and a stronger investment in early childhood education infrastructure. Suggesting parents lean on family members doesn’t fix the problem—it just sidesteps it.
