Childcare Is More Expensive Than Ever—Here's What We Can Do About It

Did you know that childcare costs more than rent in all 50 states? Oh sorry, if you're a parent reading this then of course you already know that. What you may not know, however, is what the hell to do about it (besides cry over your rapidly shrinking paycheck each month).

Moms First, an organization working to give moms the support they deserve, is just as fed up about the childcare crisis as you are, and—importantly—they have a plan. In this pivotal election year, the group is asking parents to #GetChildCareontheRecord in all 50 states by sharing their campaign and encouraging communities to take action. (And not just parents, FYI—research shows that the childcare crisis affects everyone, regardless of whether or not they have kids themselves, from lost productivity to a reduced workforce, as parents are forced to leave their jobs to care for their kids because their paycheck isn't enough to justify the cost of daycare.)

Per the organization, “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get affordable childcare passed in the U.S. But to seize this moment, we need candidates up and down the ballot to be loudly championing childcare during election season. Because if candidates aren’t saying they’ll prioritize childcare now, they sure as hell won’t do anything about it when they are in office.”

If candidates aren’t saying they’ll prioritize childcare now, they sure as hell won’t do anything about it when they are in office.

Sounds pretty good, right? Specifically, here are three things you can do to get candidates (no matter which side they're on) to prioritize affordable, quality childcare:

1. Attend a Local Event: Get a group of moms together to raise your hands, raise your voices and share your stories — together.
2. Write a Letter to the Editor: Tell your story in the local news to shape the issues informing the election.
3. Get Loud on Social Media: Ask candidates on social media: “Will you prioritize childcare in your first 100 days?”

And remember—the time to take action is now. As Moms First founder Reshma Saujani explains: “Here's the thing. It's more than just the presidential. We need Congress. We need members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to prioritize childcare. Every single race matters. And that includes down-ballot races.”

Because enough is enough—it’s time to fix our broken childcare system. And who better to lead the charge than moms? In the words of Saujani: "This will be the last time that politicians underestimate the power of moms. We're coming, and we're getting it done."

Get more information for how to participate here.