Child care markets

Child care markets

Childcare has existed since the early 1990s with the limited intervention of government in the provision of the services. This was because the responsibility of providing childcare was seen as a private issue that did not need government support. The United Kingdom was the first country to intervene in the provision of childcare services in the 1990s. The government introduced small-scale measures that were the initial start of government involved in regulating childcare. Government participation in childcare was accelerated by the introduction of the National Childcare Strategy before 2000. This was strengthened by enacting of childcare policy that incorporated taxation and regulation by inspection of daycare facilities by government bodies. In the modern world, especially the United Kingdom, the government has intervened in the provided childcare in many ways to ensure children are safe (Cloney et al. 2016).

The government primarily regulates the provision of childcare in the United Kingdom. 65% of the providers are private providers, local governments provide 2 %, volunteers provide 14 %, and 19% of the childcare is based in schools or colleges. It is estimated that over six million children are under the care of non-parental care. The estimation of the time spent by children in childcare is three-time per week. Over two-thirds of the children in the United Kingdom who are taken to childcare are under the age of 15 years. The providers of childcare are trained and registered by the government.  Most of these providers are childminders, nurseries, and playgrounds. It is just a third of the children in the United Kingdom that receive informal care. Most of the informal childcare is provided by old siblings, grandparents, friends, ex-partners, and neighbors (Lloyd 2015). As such, children in the United Kingdom receive both formal and informal childcare.

Importance of childcare markets

Child care markets have proved to be of great importance when used by parents. The government of the United Kingdom has promoted the use of child care facilities as it promotes acquiring better job opportunities. Parents can carry out their duties effectively without disturbances from their children. This promotes the effectiveness and efficiency of workers. Also, it allows children to interact with their peers. Children learn best when allowed to interact with their peers. In the childcare facilities, children gain problem-solving techniques and acquire personalities that determine their future behavior. Childcare facilities help children to interact with other adults apart from their parents. When at home, children interact with their parents and siblings, and thus childcare facilities provide that opportunity for children to learn from other adults.  Childcare facilities promote social and emotional growth that enables children to control their emotions (Flynn 2017).

Childcare market risks

            Children and childcare workers are exposed to infectious diseases while at the childcare centers. Most of them are exposed to respiratory diseases that affect their health. Also, there are chances of acquiring hepatitis B and C as the children and childcare workers interact. Childcare facilities are stressful, especially when handling children under the age of five. This causes occupational stress that workers have to reduce in order to provide better care to children. Malnutrition is a common childcare center as caregivers may not ensure a balanced and adequate diet that will promote the growth of the children. This hinders the growth and development of children in the center (León, 2016). Insecurity is another risk that children face while in childcare centers. The caregivers may not protect the children from attacks by others or attack by strangers and thus endangering the lives of children. Mistreatments and child labor are common risks that children are exposed to when taken to childcare centers. This may result from the discrimination of children by the caregivers.

Mitigating market risks

In order to control these risks that children may face while attending childcare centers, the government of the United Kingdom as enacted polities that regulate the operation of these centers. The policies have set standards that a person should meet before licensed for operating a childcare center. Also, there are fixed pricing that is applied to all centers to avoid exploitation either of the parents by the caregivers or caregivers by parents. This has enhanced equality in the provision of the services (Del Boca 2015).

In conclusion, childcare markets have been existing, and thus people should use them to enable the development of their children. Though these centers are important, the government should increase the regulations to ensure children are safe in these childcare centers and protect children from abuse.