The Real Cost of Childcare for Parents and Educators [Video]

The national average yearly cost of childcare is over $10,000 a year — a major cost for many parents. However, the childcare sector is a complex and crucial part of the economy, providing safe and loving environments for our children.

In a conversation hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Mary Janssen, Regional Director of NE Iowa at Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral, shared insights on the cost of childcare and its impact on both working parents and organizations focused early childhood education.

Because the cost of childcare is so high, many assume childcare providers must be well-off. However, according to Janssen, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

“The salary has never been able to support that type of lifestyle,” she said. “More people are drawn to it for [their] passion.”

When it comes to a childcare budget, Janssen recommends viewing it as a “one-income household [paying] every single thing underneath that roof … to keep that door open.”

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