There is one big issue with expanding schemes from pre-school (aged three or so) all the way down to infancy. In their early years, children’s development seems to depend more on the intensity of adult interaction than being around other kids.
This is an article that is less about the economics of pre school care (> 3 year old children) and more about the effect of mass warehousing babies / infants under the age of three.
the warehousing kids under 3 is a problem for the US since most mothers do not get any real time off or benefits. they get their 6 weeks then it's back to the mines.
which means you now have a ton of very very small children who need care. and in most cases these kids aren't doing much, just kinda laying there. the warehousing more or less happens after that, since it's a lot easier to pack em in.
you end up with 8 to 1 caretakers, and studies have shown that ain't great for the little ones.
Norway, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Japan, New Zealand all have universal childcare and seem to have a lot less teen violence than the US that has no universal childcare.
What a weird connection to make, assuming your assertion is accurate.
Even if it is, it is worth noting that it isn’t all sunshine and roses in those countries from a demographic point of view, notwithstanding universal childcare.
[+] [-] defrost|4 months ago|reply
[+] [-] red-iron-pine|4 months ago|reply
which means you now have a ton of very very small children who need care. and in most cases these kids aren't doing much, just kinda laying there. the warehousing more or less happens after that, since it's a lot easier to pack em in.
you end up with 8 to 1 caretakers, and studies have shown that ain't great for the little ones.
[+] [-] ggm|4 months ago|reply
[+] [-] andsoitis|4 months ago|reply
[+] [-] alphaomegacode|4 months ago|reply
[+] [-] andsoitis|4 months ago|reply
Even if it is, it is worth noting that it isn’t all sunshine and roses in those countries from a demographic point of view, notwithstanding universal childcare.
For instance, New Zealand is facing an uncertain future due to weak economics, leading New Zealanders seeking prosperity elsewhere: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/09/leaving-new-ze...
[+] [-] sharts|4 months ago|reply