Voice your concerns about child care
The Daily News (Kamloops)
February 6, 2007
Opinion -- By: C. Lion

Although the youngest of my three children is nearly old enough to no longer require after-school care, I have been concerned about child care in this community for almost 20 years.

Over the years I have worked full-time and part-time, and have attended university full-time and part-time. I have also experienced both being a single parent on income assistance, and living in a two-parent, two-income family. Additionally, I have used practically every type of child-care arrangement, from having a sitter in the home (relative and non-relative), to licensed group care, to family day-care homes, to after-school activity programs.

Thankfully, these have been mostly good experiences; some, unfortunately, not so good.

One thing that has consistently baffled me over the years is the under-utilization of schools for licensed childcare spaces and/or quality, affordable after-school programming (i.e. the After School Kids Club through parks and recreation).

Given the more recent problem of declining enrolment and school closures, one would think that now, more than ever, would be the time to consider the school-child-care connection.

I realize that adding childcare spaces in more local schools will not meet the needs of all parents, but surely it is a step in the right direction.

Finally, I just want to encourage all parents to continue to voice their child-care needs and concerns. Too often parents just struggle through trying to figure out their own day-care dilemmas, that they forget that many other parents are dealing with the same problems.

Groups of parents can draw strength from each other to take action (like attending today's rally). However, the solution to the child-care crisis is going to require much more than parents voicing their concerns. The solution must include a community and government (municipal, provincial, and federal) effort.

Maybe today will be the start of something really positive for children and families in B.C. I can only hope that the future will be brighter for my grandkids.