The Value of Early Learning and Child Care for Society
Overview
An investment in early learning and child care is an investment in children and
families, with significant benefits to Canadian society. Economists estimate that
for every $1 spent on child care, there is a $2 social and economic benefit:
- Early learning and child care help shape children’s development and set
the stage for their future as citizens, workers and parents. By fostering social
ties, early learning and child care lead to better physical and emotional health,
greater community involvement, and lower poverty and crime rates.
- Early learning and child care level the playing field among all children by providing
a more equitable starting point in life no matter what their background or needs
- Significant early learning experiences are linked with greater productivity in
adults—an important element in success at work and economic security.
- Mothers who currently work outside the home contribute $83 billion annually to
our economy. Making child care available to more families would improve Canada’s
international competitiveness by enabling more of our best people to work.
Role of the workforce
Children’s experiences in the early years last a lifetime, with far-reaching
implications for Canada’s social and economic well-being. For these reasons,
the long-term benefits of high-quality early learning and child care far outweigh the costs.
As the main providers of services, early childhood educators foster these benefits. Early
childhood educators work each day to provide learning experiences that promote the long-term
development of the children in their care.
Research on this topic
The following resources provide information on this topic:
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