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DAY CARE TAKES A BIGGER BITE

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Across the Fredericksburg area and the nation, the cost of child care continues to rise

Date published: 10/5/2008

By CATHY DYSON

When the director of a national agency talks about the cost of child care, she jokes that parents should send their 2-year-olds to college.

"It would be cheaper," said Linda Smith, director of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.

In 43 states--including Virginia--a year at a child-care center costs more than a year of tuition and fees at a four-year college. Most families pay more for child care than for food or rent, according to the national group.

Child-care costs in the United States went up 7 percent last year, twice the rate of inflation.

"It's a huge problem," Smith said. "We're stressing young families out beyond belief in this country."

Rates for day-care centers in the Fredericksburg area vary, but average $165 a week for babies and $127 a week for preschoolers.

For a family of four--with two kids in a center and both parents working--child care can eat up 20 percent of annual income, according to The Childcare Network in Fredericksburg.

"It takes a huge chunk of your paycheck," said Dana Olson, a Stafford County resident who was thrilled when her only child started kindergarten this fall.

Add a mortgage, which usually takes about 30 percent of income, and half the money made by working parents goes to taking care of the kids and keeping a roof over their heads.

"I'm just shocked," said Linda Thomas, a Spotsylvania County mother who was able to stay home with her son until he went to school. "I had no idea it was that much."

Child care is labor-intensive. Many centers are open 12 hours a day, five days a week. People who care for children in their homes tend to keep even longer hours.

"If you look at it at an hourly rate, you're not paying an outrageous amount," said Sharon Veatch, executive director of the Virginia Child Care Resource and Referral Network. "But it is significant if you're only making $8 or $10 an hour."

A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY?

Fauquier County has the highest rates in the region: an average of $206 a week for a baby. If an infant is at a center for 50 hours a week, its parents end up paying $4.12 an hour. And that's for a state-licensed, federally accredited facility that must adhere to strict adult-to-child ratios.

CHILD-CARE PROVIDERS The Fredericksburg area has the following licensed facilities: 115 child-care centers 389 homes 62 programs for before- and after-school care 78 preschool programs Private providers who keep fewer than five children in their homes don't have to get state licenses, said Sharon Veatch, executive director of the Virginia Child Care Resource and Referral Network. She estimates that half of the home providers in Virginia aren't licensed. NEED HELP? The Childcare Network of Fredericksburg provides free referrals to parents in need of child care. Parents can search the agency's database for rates, facilities and hours of operation. BY PHONE: 540/373-3275 BY E-MAIL: thechild carenetwork@hotmail.com ON THE NET: thechildcarenetwork.org OPTIONS FOR PARENTS As the economy suffers and people lose jobs, more parents are staying home to take care of their children--and taking in a few others, said Regina Maloney, director of The Childcare Network in Fredericksburg. In the past 12 to 18 months, she has seen a 20 percent to 25 percent increase in the number of home care providers. Other options to avoid child care costs are: Working nights and sharing child care with partners Job-sharing Play groups.

Date published: 10/5/2008

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