Childcare centres as extension of home

Parents resorting to childcare facilities should not be “judged” negatively or made to feel as though they are failing their duties, two women rights activists said.

“Families are different and find solutions that work best for them and we should not judge them in any way. Some couples can afford to live on one wage, others do not and both parents need to return to work after having children,” researcher and lecturer Anna Borg stressed.

She was reacting to comments by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech who expressed “concern” over the increasing demand for childcare facilities by mothers.

“It is worrying that, in this day, parents – especially mothers – want more childcare centres to leave their newborn children there as soon as their maternity leave is up,” he said.

Dr Borg pointed out that few women actually left babies of such a young age at childcare centres because, where possible, it would be the grandparents that would look after them. Parents felt it was more acceptable to do so and it was also free. Others resorted to a babysitter.

However, there were mothers who used childcare centres once their maternity leave was up. This, in turn, led to a higher cost for the centre because one carer had to look after two babies, she pointed out.

Parents in other countries did not have to worry about finding care for their babies at such a young age because of long maternity leave. “In Malta, we have just increased it to 16 weeks from next year and then another two weeks in 2013. However, compared to other countries, our maternity leave is still one of the shortest and it is ironic that, in a country where we treasure children and the family, leave is so short,” she said.

Lorraine Spiteri, managing partner of a cooperative of four childcare centres, complained about the negative portrayal of such facilities. “Just this morning I heard someone talking about ‘parking’ children at centres… It’s not right to say these things. You park a car or a truck but not children who are the most precious things we have,” she said, pointing out that comments similar to those by Mgr Grech often caused great internal conflict and guilt in mothers.

“It’s as though some people want the situation to remain unchanged when the reality is that families are changing and children can’t be left at home alone anymore,” she said. Mrs Spiteri turned Mgr Grech’s argument on its head, pointing out that good childcare centres offered value-added education to children, such as social skills, manners and character development.

She stressed that such centres could never replace the love and upbringing offered at home but should be seen to complement it.

Dr Borg, who forms part of the Confederation of Women’s Organisations, has long been campaigning for more childcare centres, highlighting their pivotal role in helping more women to return to the labour market. Good quality centres would eventually lead to more revenue for the country as more women would go to work, she stressed.

She pointed out that, for some women, stepping into the labour market “is not a question of money but a question of wanting to return to work because it makes them complete and happier people”.

There had been a similar outcry when the concept of kindergarten classes was introduced, she recalled. “People were shocked at first that children went to school at three years but now everyone sends them there.”

When asked whether it agreed with Bishop Grech’s statement, the Education Ministry said the issue of sending children to child-care facilities was a “matter of individual choice”.

“The State is committed to the provision of family-friendly measures to help families achieve a work-life balance. Child care is one such provision. It is then up to parents to decide on how to make the best use of the service,” the spokesman said.