Parents are the first line of defense against poor quality child care. They need to claim that power. National studies and research have shown that few child-care settings serve the intellectual, social and emotional needs of young children. Yet more and more children are being entrusted to child-care providers for long hours at ever younger ages.
Many parents think that's as unavoidable as dirty diapers.
But this mind-set can lead to a feeling of impotence and a shrugging acceptance of poor quality. Don't let it happen. Parents who are aware of the quality gaps in child care can become more creative in their search for other solutions. Perhaps both parents don't have to work. Or maybe they can arrange staggered schedules or extended leaves that will enable them to spend more time with their children during the crucial first five years.