With more women in the workforce than ever before, households with two working parents are more prevalent, leading to an increased need for childcare. In the U.S., over 80% of children spend time in daycare by age four, and nearly 11 million kids under the age of 5 are in some kind of childcare arrangement each week. Because of the high demand for childcare, the price of enrolling a child in these facilities is skyrocketing, putting some parents in a difficult position. Many parents are asking how to find a good daycare that is also affordable.
When searching for the right daycare, working parents tend to rank convenience and affordability fairly high on the list of things to look for. With this in mind, employers are learning that providing childcare in the workplace can increase employee loyalty, boost morale, decrease maternity leave, aid in the retention of current employees, and improve on-the-job concentration and productivity. Corporate daycare centers are onsite facilities that are run and staffed by independent contractors and their employees; they are subsidized or sponsored by the company exclusively for the use of their employees. By providing workplace-funded childcare, employers are creating a solution for working parents that is both convenient and affordable. Companies with onsite childcare are highly attractive to adults with young kids, and may find that in addition to pleasing their current employees, they will attract more applicants, and be more highly regarded than their competitors.
Business owners would be wise to consider adding onsite daycare to their employee benefits package. For the highest quality of care, operations accredited by the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) are ideal. Childcare programs with NAEYC accreditation employ only the most qualified teachers with associates or bachelors degrees in early childhood education, child development, or early childhood special education. They adhere to very high standards, which fall under four categories: Children, Teachers, Family and Community Partners, and Program Administration. Each standard has very specific criteria.
The 10 NAEYC Standards
- Relationships
- Curriculum
- Teaching
- Assessment of Child Progress
- Health
- Teachers
- Families
- Community Relationships
- Physical Environment
- Leadership and Management
So many parents are wondering how to find a good daycare. As an employer, you can benefit your company and your employees by establishing a corporate daycare.