What does this story say about access to child care?

Summer presents extra challenges for working parents of young school-age children—made clear by a recent tale of a South Carolina mom who OK’d her 9 year-old daughter’s request to be left at a community park rather than having to hang around at McDonald’s while her mother worked. The park had a splash pool, playground, friends and free breakfast and lunch. The McDonald’s had…well, you know: nothing for a 9 year-old to do all day.

The mom, Debra Harrell, was arrested for neglect, jailed for four days and had her child placed in the child welfare system for nearly three weeks. She now faces a trial and possible (but unlikely) prison time. And so the debates rage. One debate is whether the government should have a say in such child-rearing decisions. The Washington Post said it this way,

“Her arrest sparked debate about ‘helicopter parenting’ versus the ‘free-range kids’ approach, a movement designed to fight ‘the belief that our children are in constant danger from creeps, kidnapping, germs, grades, flashers, frustration, failure, baby snatchers, bugs, bullies, men, sleepovers and/or the perils of a non-organic grape,’ according to one website.”

Another debate, central to the interests of 4C for Children, is: What are the alternatives? Ms. Harrell was trying hard to play by the rules. She had had troubles in her past but cleaned up her act, has been working for five years at McDonald’s to support her daughter and by all accounts seems to be a responsible parent. Her daughter is happy and healthy and on the honor roll at school. In fact, a month after the arrest, Ms. Harrell was promoted.

But Ms. Harrell was working at a company that pays federal minimum wage, $7.25 per hour. There is no way that a full-time employee can afford child care with the wages paid by McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants. Limited child care subsidies are available in some states but are often inadequate to cover the real costs. What’s more, few good options exist for school-age children like Ms. Harrell’s daughter; 9, 10, 11, and 12-year-olds with energy and creativity do not want to spend the summer months being “babysat.” So parents are left with the dilemma of “can’t find it, couldn’t afford it anyway.” What system jails a mom for leaving her school-age daughter in a park to play? Ms. Harrell wasn’t out partying—she was working to support her daughter. I do think it is wrong to leave a child of 9 without designated adult supervision, but what are the alternatives? This mom felt she had no choice, and perhaps she really didn’t.

Here is where public policy and public resources come in to play. We need choices for school-age children—choices that are fun, educational, and healthy—and ones that low-wage, working parents can afford. Children from low-income families are the most vulnerable to academic “summer slide” as well. School and future success depend on having meaningful summer opportunities.

A separate issue, not addressed in any of the articles I read about this story, is that many jobs, including fast food, retail and home health care have varying, rotating and unpredictable work schedules, often nights and weekends. Some even call workers in day by day—or not, depending on just-in-time needs. Such jobs (sometimes the only jobs available) are incompatible with most child care businesses. A child care provider can’t make ends meet either when she cannot plan for attendance.

I wish Debra Harrell and her daughter the best. There has been an outpouring of both criticism and support. In fact, one supporter set up a crowd funding appeal and raised $42,000 for the family’s needs, including her daughter’s education.

I also hope (and will continue to work) for more sufficient and appropriate options for school-age children to become available–during the summer and all year long.