Changes to the DNA

[Judy Trickett]

Judy, we can always count on you to do the research. Frankly, I'm prone to sticking my head in the sand and hoping that it all blows over - smacks self on wrist! What you have pointed out in your post makes perfect sense and I think you found the loophole that the government didn't spot. Shhhhh, don't tell them!

I'm not really worried about it one way or another. If we are forced to lower our numbers then so be it. I'll just charge more per child. It's no different than how, in the last three years home daycares have all seemed to raise their rates about $3-5. I think this is due to centres raising their fees due to full-day learning and losing their biggest income generators - the three to five year olds who require less staff to child ratios, hence, more money to the centre.

The government is seriously screwing things up. They think they are making things better but in reality there are four things that have proven, time and time again, throughout the history of man:

1. Laws do not make those who are doing bad or underhanded things suddenly start towing the line,
2. Registered, in any business, does not equate quality
3. Supply and Demand dictate prices
4. Lower numbers increase demand and that equals higher prices per service

It's really a simple concept that we all know. Parents think they are getting "free" daycare in the full-day learning environment. But that all equals out in dollars and sense anyway because they pay more now for care for their child before they start school. If you work in the b/a school fees they still need to pay for their four year old, then over the course of that child's first 6 years of life they really save nothing.

And then, of course, we all know the other misnomer - that registered or licensed does not mean better or safer. Statistically there is NO difference in child mortality rates between home-based licensed or unlicensed care. And, in fact, kids are twice as likely to die in the care of their parents or grandparents than ANY daycare setting.

I think parents are wooed by this socialist state we are creating. Free, free, free, for everyone with so many government strongholds that providers are forced to either charge more and the parents have to lump it or providers will quit. Either way the math is the same - fewer providers, means higher fees.

I'll roll with the punches and come out better for it on the end. I always do.