Bright Horizons’ Post

How do you save your summer when the kids are out of school and camp signups have been closed for months? ☀️📆 We understand that summer is crucial for families balancing care and employment. Here are 4 ideas to keep in your back pocket to make the most of the season. 🔎 https://bh.social/4bznsfl

Substack: There are obvious downstream implications to that quote and feeling, notably that people will have less kids (cue the moral panic). If you live in a very expensive area, especially a high-taxation one, 1–2 kids would seem to be the max — and that’s assuming you have a few income streams and aren’t in an industry that could go bye-bye at any second. If you live in a middle-of-the-road area, maybe middle America somewhere or a low-tax haven, maybe 2–3 kids is realistic. It all varies by family. (Bear in mind many pregnancies are completely unintended, as well.)

This report is quite insightful. The report will give you the statistics and numbers, and I can give you a really personal story to accompany it. I work full time, and have done so for the entirety of my parenthood journey. My children are supported by two parents with income. But the rate at which childcare costs have increased (for understandable reasons), has far surpassed the rate in which salaries/wages have increased. I spend approximately 45% of my pre-tax income just to pay for childcare. And one of my children goes to a public grade school and I only pay for extended day care for that child. Affordable childcare that is a safe, high quality and trustworthy is impossible for parents to find. And when parents are spending close to, or more than, half of their income to pay someone else to take care of their kids, it becomes a difficult choice of spending so much of our money for childcare or just keeping our kids home because the amount of income we’re making, after paying for childcare, isn’t worth the time away from our kids. And it’s even harder to find childcare for our infants. I was working at a girl-serving and gender responsive organization when I gave birth to my youngest child, during a pandemic, and I only received 8 weeks (the legal minimum amount of time) of *unpaid* time off. I had to pay $1300 a month for just that child to go to a childcare facility for 8 hours a day. Ensuring that affordable, high quality childcare options are available for children & their parents is an essential part of building our workforce, increasing literacy & graduation rates, and creating equitable outcomes for all children and families in our state. And the issue of affordable childcare disproportionately impacts women, as it’s statistically more likely that the mother of a child will be the one to quit and stay home with her child(ren). Furthermore, it statically impacts women and children of color from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Not having access to affordable quality childcare is a driver of poverty levels. We don’t just need to create more high quality childcare facilities. We need to create and implement accountability measures for companies and organizations & how they’re supporting their employees who are working parents. At a time where public funding & resources are being funneled away from Florida’s public schools and into private institutions, it’s even more critical for leaders in our state to consider what infrastructure is needed to ensure we don’t slip even further down the rabbit hole of our untapped potential.

FROM THE INTERSECTION: This policy experiment in Austin, TX which had good results will freak out MAGAs everywhere because they don’t believe in programs like this, just the ones that give them free PPP loans, lower taxes and corporate welfare. “Results are out for the guaranteed basic income pilot in Austin where 135 people got $1,000/mo for a year. 9% of people reported working less and 7% reported working more. Of those who worked less, half upskilled for better future jobs, and half chose unpaid care work. Housing security significantly increased, as did food security. People lived in better housing and ate more balanced meals. People also felt significantly more connected to the people and places in their neighborhoods. https://lnkd.in/eb5dzQAC

If you're still trying to sort out your summer child care plan, don't overlook a nanny share! This can be a great summer option for families with multiple working parents. We've got all the info for you: ✍️ How a nanny share works ✍️ How much it costs (spoiler: it's usually cheaper than hiring your own nanny) ✍️ How to actually set it up ✍️ Contracts, taxes, and more Get the complete guide here: http://spr.ly/6040dmJPu

Becoming a parent is a joyous and life-changing experience. Along with the immeasurable rewards, it’s essential to recognize that raising a child also comes with significant financial responsibilities. So, how can you effectively plan and manage your finances to navigate the price of parenthood? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dfiZUxvA

Check out my contribution to the recruitment article starting on page 23.

One of the most fundamental roles played by child care is enabling parents to participate in the labor force. To support employment, parents choose from a range of child care options, both paid and unpaid. Understanding who uses paid care and other factors related to the use of paid care can help support strategies related to economic growth. Learn more about Child Care in State Economies: https://lnkd.in/eA_a5eXs

Embarking on the journey of starting a family is an exhilarating experience filled with love, joy, and excitement. 💑 However, amidst the anticipation of baby showers and nursery decorations, it's crucial not to overlook the financial aspects of expanding your family. From budgeting for diapers and daycare to planning for future education expenses, there's a lot to consider. But fear not! With careful planning and preparation, you can navigate these financial considerations with confidence, ensuring a stable and secure future for your growing family. 💼👶 #FamilyFinance #FinancialPlanning #SummitPlannersCluster

Embarking on the journey of starting a family is an exhilarating experience filled with love, joy, and excitement. 💑 However, amidst the anticipation of baby showers and nursery decorations, it's crucial not to overlook the financial aspects of expanding your family. From budgeting for diapers and daycare to planning for future education expenses, there's a lot to consider. But fear not! With careful planning and preparation, you can navigate these financial considerations with confidence, ensuring a stable and secure future for your growing family. 💼👶 #FamilyFinance #FinancialPlanning #SummitPlannersCluster