March 21, 2025
By Zana Lacka
Staff Writer
This article is part of a six-part in-depth reporting project about women’s issues.
For many American families, the cost of child care can feel overwhelming, leaving little room for financial freedom.
According to the Department of Labor, the cost of preschool and day care has risen by about a quarter since 2019. Child care now costs the average American between $6,552 and $15,600 annually, which is between 8.9-16% of a family’s median income.
These concerns raise questions about the possibility of free or government-subsidized child care to ease their stress and provide new financial opportunities.
Sophomore Serenity Mendoza said she has witnessed the stress child care puts on her mother.
“I wish that [the government was] doing better to actively help her and any other mother in that situation, especially mothers with multiple children,” Mendoza said.
Her mother stays at home to offer constant care to her brother, who is almost two years old and has special needs.
“He needs that extra bit of attention. [My mom is] so stressed out. Sometimes she gets maybe three hours of sleep,” Mendoza said.
She said the responsibility and cost of child care prevent women from earning additional money.
“There [are] few people that have the opportunity to go and make some extra money to provide for their families,” Mendoza said. “I have seen so many mothers who are struggling, who can’t work because they’re watching their children, and that’s the first priority.”
According to a 2023 report by the well-being brand Motherly, among moms who do not currently work but wish to do so in the future, 45% said they would only take a job if they could find affordable child care.
This statistic points to a study by ReadyNation, a business organization for executives, which found that America’s infant-toddler child care crisis is costing the country $122 billion annually in lost earnings, productivity and revenue.
Math teacher Mr. Carucci, who has a newborn and a two-year-old son, said free or subsidized child care would make life easier for him and his family.
“Affordable child care is essential to allowing moms like me to go back to work.”
He said the financial strain of paying for child care has caused him and his wife, a school counselor, to consider taking on additional jobs.
“[I] might start tutoring to make some extra money…. It would [make it] easier to take care of standard bills and mortgage and groceries,” Carucci said. “[Child care] ties up a lot of our equity.”
He said affordable child care would encourage women to take on jobs outside the home.
“It frees you up to pursue whatever it is that you want to do. I think, in general, this would cause more women [to join] the workforce,” Carucci said.
He said he and his wife feel at ease going to work while their toddler is at day care.
“It’s good and [teaches] the basics…. It’s nice knowing he has a safe, reliable, stable place to be,” Carucci said.
English and public speaking teacher Ms. Burns said child care was essential for her to return to work after having each of her two children, who are one and three years old.
“For many parents, myself included, it is a delicate balance between being ‘Mom’ and being me. Personally, I desire both career and family life and would not feel fulfilled staying home full time. Affordable child care is essential to allowing moms like me to go back to work,” Burns said.
She said free or subsidized child care would positively affect women’s financial independence.
“Low-income women and single mothers would benefit greatly from more financial independence with affordable child care,” Burns said. “Not seeing their entire paychecks go to child care and stressing about providing other essentials would, in my opinion, benefit not only their financial health but their mental health as well.”
Burns said the cost of child care has significantly impacted her life.
“Now that [I] have two [children] in full-time day care, I can really see how impossible this situation can be for many people. I’ve definitely had to be more mindful with spending and budget since this change,” Burns said. “I feel the pain of anyone who wants the absolute best care for their children but can’t afford a second mortgage to get it.”