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Show Working Mother Is Alerted to Good Child Care With the number of working mothers at an all-time high 1 there are close to IV2 million women in the "labor force" with children under 18 observers of family life have been focusing their attention more closely on the arrangements made by families fami-lies for the care of the children while the mother is away at work. Particular interest has been expressed about the care of youngsters under the age of 12, reports the Institute of Life Insurance. In-surance. Beyond this age children chil-dren presumably begin to acquire ac-quire enough self reliance and independence to need a baby sitter less often. The latest survey by the U. S. Children's Bureau shows that almost al-most 3 million mothers working full time have children under 12 of people not related to them. Beyond this, only a handful of children, relatively speaking, are so far being taken care of in nursery schools, play groups or day care centers while the mothers moth-ers work, while 400,000 children are left on their own, to care for themselves while their mothers are on the job. Practically all are over 6; most are close to the age of 12. To alert mothers to make the best possible arrangements for children, the U. S. Children's Bureau has expressed some concern con-cern over the quality of care that some children receive while mothers work. "We know that in many communities com-munities services of good quality are lacking. Despite gains made by states in licensing day care facilities, the best that can be said is that their number is increasing in-creasing but that certainly both in quantity and quality the supply sup-ply lags far behind the need." We have known for a long time that, as a country, we have long since passed the stage when regardless re-gardless of the pros and cons it is realistic to inquire whether or not mothers should work. Financial Fi-nancial pressure is a major factor fac-tor in a mother's decision to work. a matter of 5 million boys and girls who have to be cared for. Fortunately for them, a very large majority receive care in their own homes while their mothers are at work. Many are placed in charge of relatives, perhaps a grandmother living with the family, or who has her home nearby. The mother of a child or chil- I dren under three, who is think- I ing about employment, may be able to arrange for care by relatives rela-tives or friends in family homes as happens in most instances. It is important that a youngster receive care comparable with what he gets at home, including considerations of health, safety and emotional environment. For children between three and five, where home care is not available, group care may provide pro-vide an answer for a working mother. In most communities she will be fortunate if she finds it, more fortunate if she finds a good versions of it and most fortunate if she finds one of the best. There is a feeling in some quarters that a jelative who takes care of a youngster on a more or less permanent basis should be paid for his work and work it is. But this is something some-thing that families will want to decide for themselves. In some instances an elderly relative can well use the extra income, but on the other hand many a grandmother grand-mother would not accept pay for this kind of work. As for other arrangements for child care there are several hundred hun-dred thousand young children, whose mothers work full time, who are cared for in the homes All persons who bear blessed title of "parent' have the personal per-sonal responsibility to see that their children are growing up fully appreciative of the rights of God and their fellowmen. J.. Edgar Hoover. |