Everyone is being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic – for some it may
be just a mild inconvenience, for others it may be a major disruption
to their daily lives. Some people are overwhelmed and beginning to
panic while others are completely nonchalant.
For those of us working in childcare the big question has been ‘Is the daycare going to close?’ and the only available answer has been ‘We don’t know.’
Even in the field there are arguments both for and against closing
childcare facilities. Many think that because the schools are closing,
childcare facilities should too. Others argue that childcare is an
essential service and must remain open for those parents who need to go
to work.
My personal, possibly not popular opinion, is that licensed childcare facilities should NOT be forced to close.
Certainly, any sick children or staff should not be there and should
be isolated at home, but what about those children whose parents still
need to go to work? If they have a spouse or other family member who is
temporarily off work then they have options but what if they don’t?
What if their only available childcare option is Grandma – whose
immune system is already compromised? Maybe another choice is the unlicensed
childcare provider who wasn’t forced to close and now has agreed to
temporarily take in any and all the children who need childcare.
Wouldn’t a licensed childcare facility – with strict cleaning and
disinfecting procedures already in place – be a better option?
Yes, social distancing is a very difficult if not impossible concept
for children but most trained early childhood educators have the skills
to implement games and activities to limit direct contact. Many of us
will actually be spending most of our time playing outdoors in the fresh
air.
If licensed facilities are forced to close where will those children
go? Are they able to be with their family or are their parents at work
and the children are huddled on the couch watching movies with their
friends. What if their parents’ only option now is to send them to that
one person on the block who says ‘No problem, send them all here, we’re
having a party’.
Sure, if parents are off work and able to use this situation to be
isolated at home spending quality time with their family that is
probably the best option. The reality is that there are still a lot of
parents who need to go to work and closing all licensed childcare
facilities might just be the worst thing to do.
