Importance of high-quality child care

Re: The truth about wasteful daycare funding — May 3

In her column, Andrea Mrozek states that polls show parents prefer one parent to stay home with their child(ren). There is no information as to who was asked for the poll or how the question was posed. Yes, parents would obviously prefer to stay home with their children, but parents have to work to afford living expenses. The City of Toronto’s Licensed Child Care Demand and Affordability Study shows that parents cannot find affordable child care, and that is why they are left to pick alternatives such as relatives or a neighbourhood home; it is not because parents do not want to put their child in child care.

According to Mrozek, adding more child-care spots will not benefit parents. Unfortunately, affordability is an important driver of demand. Fee subsidies can significantly improve access to child care for many families.

Evidence shows the importance of a high-quality child care. Exposure to high-quality care has a lifelong effect on a child’s well-being. What Andrea Morzak sees as a waste of an investment may be what improves children for life. Jessica Recarte Registered Early Childhood Educator Intern, Ontario Coalition for Better Childcare Third Year Student, Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership, George Brown College Toronto