The ensuing childcare shortage

[Afromania]

While it's being discussed how people are going to deal with schools ad daycare centers shutting down for a good bit. Nobody is discussing, well at least nobody I've seen, the impact of no longer having Grandma, Grandpa, Nanna, Poppop and all the assorted Aunties and Uncles available for babysitting?

Much like the legions of family caregivers in this country. The elder babysitter goes largely unnoticed, unheralded and taken as a given. This, in my opinion, is being reflected by it not being discussed in the media. Usually, they are taking care of kids while one, or both, parents go to work. What happens when these parents who may be "essential" personnel and unable to stay home during the eventual shutdown? It's going to be a problem and the option for elder babysitters may need to come off the table with how the CoronaVirus works. Without ample, and quirk return, testing every babysitting session would become a potential transmission risk.

I don't have kids, so its not a problem for me, but its something that needs to be considered along with the other problems we are going to face before things get out of hand. Lastly, I just want to give a big-up to all my elder care givers here, and everywhere else, because I know you guys are going to say f-it to this and take care of all the children in your life despite the risk.

[Freddie]

1. Yup

I’m 63 and will be caring for my 3 grandkids as usual while my daughter works from home. Just praying that they didn’t pick up anything at school. Schools closed for the next 2 weeks at least here.

[frazzled]

2. Couldn't high school students

who are also out of school get together to form a resource to offer babysitting for families or small groups of children?

I’m lucky because my daughter-in-law is at home for childcare (they just had a set of identical twins to add to the two other kids). We are trying to self-quarantine. But even we would step in to watch the young kids who live on our floor in the building, if asked.

[treestar]

3. good idea

and would create some community feeling.

[Afromania]

5. That would be a great idea and they should be paid for by the government as well.

Perhaps using the same sort of program the Medicare/Medicaid uses to pay some folks for being caregivers/assistants to those that need it. On the by and by you now have more experience in disaster management than the entire freaking trump administration.

[guillaumeb]

4. Recommended.

There is no real plan. All of these plans rely on ignoring the reality of life in the US.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

6. Retired volunteers also have to step back. I would normally volunteer but can't risk it. nt

[Doreen]

7. There are so many people who can not afford to pay for child care.

I suspect that the number of latchkey children is going to increase.