Also, choosing to place children in child care centers can successfully support parents and motivate the working parents to continue to work. Many working parents do not have a choice of staying home to raise the baby after the child is born, therefore many parents have to rely on random arrangements for their child to be taken care of if the right child care facility is not available. Most working parents have to continue working not long after their new child has arrived, and those parents need to have a reliable, safe, licensed child care facility to leave their precious child (Walton par. 11). Lois Collins, a reporter of family issues, claims that parents sometimes have to trust their children with unregulated care while they try to make a living to support their family; however, having more day care options could eliminate this problem (Collins par. 6). The parents that are required to return to work after having a child, want to choose a day care that will keep their child safe and fit their busy schedule.
If there is a child care center available, then the working parents can rely on the support of the center to know that their child is safe and being taken care of when the parent returns to work. Walton has always believed that ". . .a lack of affordable child care is keeping some women from returning to work. . ." (Walton par. 18). If the women cannot return to work after they have a baby because of lack of child care centers, then they are forced to stay home with the baby even if that is not the mom’s preference. Businesses lose valuable employees when the employees choose not to or cannot put their children in child care (Walton par. 19). Child care centers are important for modern society because with all the working moms, the centers support the working parents and the economy. Journalist Bryce Covert rightfully argues that in the 80s and 90s, television and radio hosts suggested to women that staying home with the children was the best option for the whole family (Covert par. 4). However, this society is a more inclusive society where more women have jobs than women did in the 80s and 90s (Covert par. 4). More women are allowed to work today than in the past. As a result there are more day care options offered, and working moms are even encouraged to take advantage of the centers.
Opposition Although many parents are working parents, some of those working parents choose not to return to work after having a child because they believe that the parents need to be there for their children to love them and to bond with the child. The essence of Elias’ argument is that "Still, decisions come down to individual families, and for many parents, they're not easy ones" (Elias par. 18). The opposing side believes that the parents need to focus solely on their children, but understands that the decision to stay home to raise the child is a difficult decision for any new parent to make. Although the opposition believes children need to be nurtured by the parents more than by child care providers, there is no set amount of time that is better for children to be with their parents (Grose par. 16). Grose is right that "There is no "best" amount of time to spend with your children” (Grose par. 16). Children do need to spend time with their parents, but spending time with parents does not mean that they cannot be cared for by a child care center employee.