In this episode, For Our Babies founder Dr. Ron Lally, from the Center For Child and Family Studies at WestEd, talks with Marcy Whitebook, from the Center for the Study of Childcare Employment at the University of California, Berkeley, about the current state of infant/toddler workforce conditions. [podcast]https://forourbabies.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/fob_ep14_marcy_whitebook.mp3[/podcast]
Length: 34 min 18 sec
I wasn’t aware of the conditions for babies, I was enlighten
YES. this is the most intelligent conversation on our current crisis!!! THank you!!! My heart breaks – I have been in this field my whole life – and I have seen so many smart caring people get burned out or leave the profession all together. One thing that is particularly fascinating right now is how everyone seems to be wearing blinders. Our parents and teachers have become so accustomed to “surviving” and we are starting to accept lower standards as best practices. The biggest example of this I see right now is the patchwork system where babies, toddlers, preschoolers are constantly on the go. We move them around from nanny to centers to babysitters to moms and dads sharing work shifts. Kids are shuffled around more than I have ever seen before in my 30 year career. My relationship with kids is suffering because I only have them in my care 2 or 3 days per week. Things like basic motor skills and toilet learning is delayed and I believe it is because kids are not settling in and having habitats where they are moving enough and connecting enough. I feel they are becoming disconnected and aimless and sitting in car seats too long. Adults talk about how flexible and rough and ready kids are and how great it is for them to have so many different people in their lives. I am very troubled by this trend.