Many school-aged kids are able to go to the classroom on a regular basis, but there’s a gap in childcare for kids not yet old enough to get vaccinated, or attend school. Parents of young children are juggling full time jobs, and daycare closures.

“My daughter has been home from daycare since Thanksgiving because of quarantining. So life has been very interesting,” said Kate Canino, with the Child Development Council.

Like many people, Kate is working from home so she can watch her daughter during the day.

“Even having your kid home while you're working is extremely challenging. You can't really be there 100% for your job or 100% there for your kid,” said Canino.

What You Need To Know

  • Parents are juggling work and finding care for their kids

  • Kids not yet old enough to go to school or get vaccinated fall into a childcare gap

  • Tompkins County was facing a childcare shortage before pandemic

Her daughter Juniper’s daycare has had to close several times due to staff, as well as children coming down with COVID-19.

“Programs are now closing and quarantining more than they did when this first started. Because now kids are back in school, parents are back at work,” said Canino.

It's an issue caused by new requirments regarding extra caution for kids under five because they can't get vaccinated yet.

“It's not the 1950’s anymore where moms are staying home with their kids and they're able to. You usually have both parents working to pay the bills and to pay for childcare. So it's like our whole society needs to catch up,” said Canino.

According to the Child Development Council, the average cost to take care of an infant in New York is more than $15,000 a year.

According to the Empire State Campaign for Childcare, it would take a $5 billion investment from New York State to stabilize the childcare system and start a path to universal childcare. Meanwhile, families are feeling the impact.

“I see a big difference in her just kind of regressing, because she's not around any kids,” said Canino. “It can't solely be placed on the parents alone. We're not meant to live in isolation. We're meant to live in community. And that's just not happening right now.”

Kate said it's taking a toll on families, saying, “People definitely have COVID fatigue and parents are burnt out.”

Kate says she's lucky that she has a job that lets her work from home, as well as a partner that can work from home as well. Although some hourly workers aren't as lucky and might have to choose between childcare and employment.

Tompkins County was already facing a childcare shortage before the pandemic. According to the Child Development Council, Tompkins County has more than 4,000 children under the age of 6, but under 1,400 child care spots.