INCREASING NUMBERS of parents are taking their children out of creches and placing them with unqualified childminders to save money, childcare experts have warned.
Irene Gunning, chief executive of the Irish Preschool Play Association, told a conference in Dublin yesterday there was a danger that many children would miss out on high-quality early childhood care and education as a result.
“Our members are telling us they are being asked by parents to be much more flexible in providing more part-time care,” Ms Gunning said, “but many parents are moving to childminding and there is a growing concern about that.
“You can sometimes have very gifted childminders, but it is an unregulated and if the standards or the quality isn’t there, no one is there to step in.”
Steve Alexander, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, the largest provider of early years education in England, said the pattern of parents shunning formal childcare was taking root in Britain as the recession bit.
“Parents simply don’t have the money for daycare and the changes in credit rules are making it harder for childcare services to survive,” he said.
The conference also heard that TVs and computer games were “sabotaging” traditional play and exposing children to the sales tactics of aggressive marketers.
Sue Palmer, the author of Toxic Childhood, which claims modern lifestyles are damaging children, said over-protective parents and childcare workers were in danger of stunting children’s development.
“Boys in particular need to be outdoors play-fighting with their friends and using their natural energy and creativity instead of spending hours on computer games . . . ,” she said.
“Anyone working with young children needs to respect their play and realise there are times when you should manage it, but there are also times when you should back off. That can be hard if you are a childcare worker with legislation tying your hands, or parents wanting to ensure their children don’t get bruised or scratched while playing.”
Ms Gunning also said it was vital for children to learn essential life skills through their play. “Parents today can be too competitive about their children and tend to over-complicate and over-schedule their child’s play time. We know that traffic is a big problem and we need to find practical ways for children to reclaim the territory outside their doors to play with their friends and to have fun making their own play,” she said.
“We adults have got to do a reality check and really consider what it’s like to be a child in Ireland today if we are to properly shape the agenda for childcare and create a real vision for tomorrow.”
To do that, she added, parents needed to look at childcare for children, rather than something convenient to suit the adults.
Minister for Children Barry Andrews is due to address the conference today where he is expected to provide further details on plans for a free preschool place for every child in Ireland.
The conference continues today in Dublin Castle from 9am until 4.30pm.