Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

to re-pose the radio 4 question - Is childcare good for CHILDREN?

859 replies

IceBeing · 04/03/2014 08:40

Our dearest Justine and some bloke from the family childcare trust were on radio 4 this morning talking about childcare costs.

They focussed on Mums who would like to work more but cannot afford to due to childcare costs, and a proposal to make more free time available for 2-3 yos.

They both made a compelling case that this situation was bad for the Mums (because they want to work and can't).

They made a reasonable (but by no means obviously correct) argument that it was better for the economy for these Mums to work.

But they were then asked something along the lines of:

" Is increased access to childcare good for children? I mean if it isn't there isn't really any point? "

And they didn't answer AT ALL. They went back to the previous economic answer. Well actually Justine didn't get a chance to respond - so no accusation in her specific direction!

But what is the answer?

Is taking a child out of the home and putting them in nursery for an additional period between 2 and 3 yo (which was the proposal being discussed) actually good for the child?

Do kids in nursery earlier do better/worse at school? Are they happier/less happy? Is this a simple case of happier mummy, happier toddler?

OP posts:
londonkiwi · 07/03/2014 09:42

Just read your last post properly retro. Well said, good on you for saying it. I think you've had a rough time on this thread.

Retropear · 07/03/2014 09:42

Don't know an exact answer Candy but maybe it should take priority over other things.

I'm sure many far better qualified than me could look into it in the same way we we are going to have to look at care for the elderly.Maybe companies could do more,families themselves.Does it always have to be financial,are there other waysYou'd have to look at the long term benefits if there were any,they may have a financial impact.

Don't know but also don't see why as a society we couldn't even try if it was warranted.

I would like to see better careers advice in school and for women and more done with young people on life planning. Deciding on what they want and advice on how to get/pay for it and plan it into their lives longterm.

I don't know.I see the gov funnelling families into using cheap,faceless nursery chains earlier and earlier because it's good for them with families being told it's a given and only the rich/lazy could ever work a period of doing a period of childcare into their lives.

TeamWill · 07/03/2014 09:42

Retro

Your last post makes me think that you are approaching this question from the viewpoint of an early years educator rather than as a parent and maybe that's why you feel you can speak for children everywhere rather than for your child.

You have every right to your viewpoint and its nice to see you posting in a more balanced way but the point remains - you can only decide whats best for your children and other parents can decide what is best for theirs.
Im a midwife- I held firm views about what I wanted for my pregnancy and birth. I am absolutely required as part of my role to respect the views of parents about their choices even if they are different from my own.
I think as a parent I would want the same from you if you were in anyway involved with my DC.

Retropear · 07/03/2014 09:43

Thank you London,it's appreciated.Smile

TeamWill · 07/03/2014 09:43

It was the 09.19 post I am referring to.

Retropear · 07/03/2014 09:48

And who says you wouldn't.Hmm

I personally didn't want to bf but all the research led me to give it a go and my dc got colostrum they wouldn't gave otherwise had.

I simply think families deserve the same kind of info with childcare.

funnyossity · 07/03/2014 09:49

An aside but I was researching a government minister (OK I admit it was Wiki!) who turns out to have an interest in a nursery chain. It's as well to remember our politicians are not without bias.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 07/03/2014 09:49

I don't agree that allowing parents to not work should take priority over other things. Like increasing staffing rates in hospital wards? Working in the NHS, I'm quite stunned that anyone would think it is a priority.

Retropear · 07/03/2014 09:52

But they would be working,they'd be doing a valuable job and actually I think the needs of children should be one of the countries top priorities.

Funny one of Dave's friends who has been given the school dinner job and suggested free dinners for all has a catering company.Funny that!Wink

Ubik1 · 07/03/2014 09:53

Funnyossity -if you really want to scare yourself research Tory party cabinet links to private healthcare and ask yourself who is going to prosper while the NHS is dismantled under our noses.

Sorry that's a different thread...

usuallyright · 07/03/2014 09:57

there's a lot of misinformation on this thread, mostly coming from wohms.
The idea that to be a sahm is a thing of privilege, a choice available only to the wealthy, is just utter rubbish.

The many sahms I know mostly are from homes where people are earning around national average salary. They've cut their cloth accordingly. They're not wealthy or privileged.
I'm in a town where house prices are high.
And yes, some people have been incredibly rude to Retropear. They're happy to ignore the barbed comments from wohms though, that's fine because they're reinforcing their own argument.

BudsBeginingSpringinSight · 07/03/2014 09:58

I don't know.I see the gov funnelling families into using cheap,faceless nursery chains earlier and earlier because it's good for them with families being told it's a given

I have a friend in the states who handed over her very much longed for three month old into a nursery 4 days a week.

What I found interesting was that she didn't give it much thought, because it was the done thing in the part of the states where she lives.

I just think it would be a real shame if women just think its par for the course, have baby, goes into nursery x months,

I just hope it never becomes the thing to do, I hope there always remains that choice.

It would be nice if more possibility was available for both parents to go part time, and more support was available for parents with children up to two years who wants to stay at home can.

TeamWill · 07/03/2014 09:59

Not sure why you are doing the Hmm face Confused
As a professional I understand the needs of women are different - I don't hold different views in my work life or personal life about the way women give birth- its the womans choice .
I agree that parents deserve all the information possible and are then allowed to make their choice without judgement

BudsBeginingSpringinSight · 07/03/2014 10:00

And yes, some people have been incredibly rude to Retropear

Agree you have been outstanding on this thread Retro!

funnyossity · 07/03/2014 10:01

I was just dipping in (for reasons totally unconnected to childcare) and this person's experience/lack of in relevant area made my jaw drop, I couldn't manage any more scares!

janey68 · 07/03/2014 10:03

"Allowed to make their own choice without judgement".

Round of applause

Retropear · 07/03/2014 10:03

BudsSmile

Funny I dare not Google

funnyossity · 07/03/2014 10:04

candy we could cut our holidays back to US levels and improve staffing rates.

TeamWill · 07/03/2014 10:06

Thanks janey

funnyossity · 07/03/2014 10:06

That is not something I want by the way I'm just saying these are choices for governments to make and it is possible to speculate on different scenarios.

BudsBeginingSpringinSight · 07/03/2014 10:08

I think philosophy should be taught in schools, it gives you the ability to ask why are we doing this and look at the bigger picture. Some people esp some on this thread seem like blinkered sheeples following the crowd.

we all need to be asking questions, pestering, why why why why.

funnyossity · 07/03/2014 10:09

Thing is even when there isn't a judgement it may seem that way. As a trivial example I am not judging people who like to take a holiday but someone world trekker might well come and lambast me now, hence the second "disclaimer" post!

funnyossity · 07/03/2014 10:12

that should read "some world trekker".

Original poster
IceBeing · 07/03/2014 10:13

so I wrote something incredibly insightful and meaningful last night...but I don't appear to have posted it...

This is a tragedy of epic proportions...and all our lives are will be the poorer for it... Grin

OP posts:
TeamWill · 07/03/2014 10:14

I agreeBuds so that we can make our own choices using all the information that we have at our disposal.