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By
Catherine M. Pruissen
Once of little concern outside the family, the care
and early education of young children has become a
high priority in the world of businesses.
Quality
child care, or the lack thereof, affects parents'
peace of mind and, consequently, their performance
on the job and/or their ability to maintain a reasonable
attendance record. When families can successfully
meet their child care needs, both business and society
benefit through a more productive work force today
and a more informed one for tomorrow.
From
the moment they are born, children are learning the
critical cognitive, physical, social and emotional
skills they need for later success in life. The successful
development depends on the quality of a child's early
experiences, whether these occur while the child is
in the care of the parents . . . or someone else.
Poor-quality care can hamper what and how well children
learn, their readiness for formal schooling, and their
future success in school, at work and as citizens.
Policies
that help children develop and provide peace of mind
for parents produce additional benefits that accrue
to society at large. A more productive work force
can mean not only higher wages and an improved bottom
line but also a more competitive national economy.
Supporting the institution of the family and rebuilding
some of the "social capital" lost within some families
are worthy objectives that can help strengthen the
very fabric of society.
Ensuring
the readiness of young children for school and for
life goes beyond family responsibily and requires
a full-fledged partnership among families, the community,
private-sector institutions (including businesses
and foundations), and the government.
Partnerships
is listed as the 7th component of quality child care,
in the National Statement On Quality Child Care,
a publication of the Canadian Child Care Federation
and Welfare Canada.
"Quality
child care serves the best interest of children and
families in a partnership of parents, professionally
trained care providers, all levels of government,
training institutions, and provincial and territorial
and national organizations who carry out complimentary
responsibilities."
By
empowering parents with non-biased, high-caliber information
we are giving them the knowlwdge they need to be able
to recognize the difference between a quality caregiver
or facility and a poor one, and the confidence to
make an informed choice for their family.
In
our Library
Files and our Exclusive
Products we teach parents to look for those facilities
and caregivers who work in partnership with local,
provincial and national organizations. Your partnership
with child care organizations and facilities in your
local community and country, shows your dedication
in supporting the families you serve and the employees
who help you prosper. It also shows that you believe
in putting the power to choose in the hands of those
to whom it rightfully belongs, the parents.
Please
be an active partner. Take the time to ensure your
organization is listed in our Registry
or our Valuable Links section.
It's another way we can help "Strengthen child
care one visitor at a time."
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