Why Child Care Matters

High quality child care settings can have enormous impacts on a child’s developing brain, family’s stability and economic mobility, and the economic wellbeing of a community. 

Brain Development

High-quality child care plays a crucial role in brain development, especially during the first five years of life when a child's brain experiences rapid growth and forms critical neural connections. Some key brain development benefits of high-quality child care include:

    • Simulating Environment: Exposure to enriching activities like reading, problem-solving, and exploratory play promotes cognitive skills like memory, attention, and reasoning.

    • Language Acquisition: High-quality care often includes activities that encourage verbal interactions, storytelling, and singing, which are essential for developing vocabulary and language skills.

    • Early Learning Readiness: Activities designed to foster early literacy and numeracy prepare children for academic success.

    • Secure Relationships: Consistent, nurturing interactions with caregivers foster secure attachments, which are vital for emotional regulation and resilience.

    • Social Skills: Opportunities for cooperative play and group activities help children develop skills like empathy, communication, and conflict resolution.

    • Emotional Regulation: High-quality caregivers model and support the development of strategies for managing emotions.

    • Resilience: A supportive environment helps children develop coping mechanisms to handle challenges.

    • Self-Control: Structured environments teach children how to delay gratification and follow rules.

    • Planning and Problem-Solving: Activities that encourage goal-setting and critical thinking help develop these higher-order cognitive functions.

To learn more about how the brain develops during these early years, click here to watch this video by the Harvard Center on the Developing Child.

Family’s Stability and Economic Mobility

High-quality child care can profoundly impact a family’s stability and economic mobility by addressing both immediate and long-term needs making impacts in the following areas:

    • Improved Earnings: When parents can work full-time or advance their careers, household income increases, reducing financial strain.

    • Fewer Absences and Job Losses: Reliable care reduces work absences and minimizes the risk of job loss due to child care challenges.

    • Early Interventions: High-quality care addresses developmental needs early, reducing the likelihood of future costs associated with remediation, special education, or healthcare. Families see long-term benefits as their children are better prepared for school, reducing the need for additional educational support.

    • Reduced Stress: Parents are more likely to feel confident and secure when they know their children are in a safe, nurturing environment, leading to improved mental health and family dynamics.

    • Stronger Family Relationships: With their child in quality care, parents can focus on their own well-being and spend more meaningful time with their children outside of work.

Economic Wellbeing of a Community

High quality child care also has profound impacts on local economies in the following ways:

    • Supports Parental Employment: Accessible, reliable child care enables parents, especially mothers, to participate in the workforce without interruptions.

    • Reduces Employee Absenteeism: Parents with access to dependable care are less likely to miss work, increasing overall productivity.

    • Facilitates Career Advancement: With stable child care, parents can pursue higher education, training, or career growth, leading to higher earning potential.

    • Job Creation: Child care centers employ educators, administrators, and support staff, generating jobs and contributing to the local economy.

    • Spending Power: Increased parental income from stable employment contributes to local businesses and services.

    • Multiplier Effect: Every dollar invested in high-quality child care generates additional economic activity as families and providers spend locally.

    • Attracts Businesses: Communities with robust child care systems are more attractive to employers and employees, fostering economic development.

    • Community Vitality: Stable child care infrastructure is essential for recovery and long-term resilience, ensuring the continuity of economic activity.

    • The absence of reliable child care in Colorado costs the economy on $1.52 Billion a year in lost revenue, profits and productivity.

To learn more about how child care can impact the economy read this 2024 Report from Ready Nation.