As you say, not a new topic, but with the election coming up I am wondering whether anyone will raise the topic of childcare as a legitimate, economic activity on which our society must expend time and money.
In some countries
- the taxpayer picks up the bill through subsidising nurseries/creches
- Women pick it with uncosted care/unvalued in financial terms
- Employers pick it up with flexible working/parent friendly solutions
Whatever way it is paid for - or not paid but still done by someone - raising our young is the single most important economic activity undertaken by humans - and that costs time, effort, planning - and usually that translates into cash and should be part of the political discussion as is energy production, manufacturing, even banking
So the question is not individually how we cover the costs of childcare - but how as a society we provide this most vital of economic activities. My question to politicians is - how are we building our single most important economic activity, the one activity on which all our long term plans can founder or grow - how are we developing it, strengthening it, creating a thriving and driving part of our economy.
As long as we regard childcare as private, as family, as individual (which of course it is as well) before we think of its economic importance to all society we will struggle to maintain its economic health.
I write as a retail buyer, volunteer, mother of 5 with 6 grandchildren, a foster carer, sports development worker, childcare development worker, mentor, primary teacher and childminder - now including grandchildren as a childminder. Yes, yes I have lived a long time and, as we all have, done lots!