Universal child care can harm children
economist.com
economist.com
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.
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.
One way to see the issue more clearly is by imagining someone is getting subsidized childcare for child 1. Now they’re looking to have another child and also want that child’s childcare to be free or subsidized. Why should other people subsidize thats 2nd child? The person can clearly not afford the 2nd child. Staying with that logic, what then gives that person the right to ask me to subsidize their first child’s childcare in the first place?
If they have already cut expenses like holidays, eating out, not gambling, not buying dumb non-educational toys, etc. then I might be more empathetic, but I am confident that they are spending on those non-essential luxuries.
You might be paying a portion of their childcare, but you are not paying their childcare. One could say the same to parents at a private day care. They are, after all, only paying their portion of the cost of the service, not the cost of the service.
> they want it free or subsidized
How do they get it for free? Again, do you think they aren't paying their taxes?
> The person can clearly not afford the 2nd child.
This does not follow. If the economic reality in which they choose to have a child includes tax-paid childcare, and they can afford a child given that, then they can clearly afford the child.
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...