Family Daycare And Paid Leave
By Nicole Brekelbaum, Fri Dec 9th

Once you come across a dedicated provider you begin tounderstand that working in the child care field is a labor oflove and certainly not labor for monetary gain. According toMagda Martinez, UNM Career Works , “Providers earn $12,058 peryear, on average, and seldom receive benefits or paid leave.”Family providers who work from home are usually the onesmost greatly affected by the absence of paid leave. Most areself-employed and work alone having to devise ways to balancework and personal time.

Nationwide, providers are encouraged to take charge of theirprofessional development and attain certain minimum standards inthe area of caregiver training. Classes are offered at localchild care associations, non-profit organizations and nationalseminars and conferences.

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Most training classes are held afterwork hours but there are a few professional organizations thathost training classes during the work week.

Some family providers with a vested interest in theirprofessional development are finding it necessary to create adaycare policy that allocates, on average, three days paid leaveannually for child care training. The arrangement is such thatparents pay the provider’s salary for three days and then searchfor a substitute caregiver to provide temporary care. Thisarrangement is not as easy as it sounds. Parents are usuallyreluctant to pay providers for their personal leaves,and providers in an attempt to remain competitive, compromisetheir professional development and work year round.

Today family is the most affordable childcare optionavailable to parents. Research has shown time and time againthat its low prices and affordability gives parents a huge pricebreak. Is it therefore unreasonable for family providersto request paid leave for three days in the year?

This is a sensitive issue that affects both parents and daycareproviders. Parents who use family need to be aware ofthis issue. Do what feels most comfortable for you and yourchild. You may find that having to pay for three days oftraining may not be such a bad idea, given that your daycareprovider is one of your child's most important influencers.

About the author:Nicole Brekelbaum is a published author, the director of Young Achievers Inc.in Pflugerville, Texas, and founder of Pflugerville ChildcareOnline. Visit her company's website athttp://www.youngachieversinc.com.