Let’s talk about Extreme Daycare…
Parents are working longer and more irregular hours than ever before, which is why an increasing number of Australian daycare centres are offering late-night and 24-hour care.
It’s called Extreme Daycare, and while Australians have only just realised the need for it, in the US business it is booming.
Dee’s Tots Childcare is a 24-hour daycare centre located in New York. The centre is run by Delores and Patrick Hogan, they’ve been in the business since 1985 and care for children who stay late and some who stay overnight. The hours mean that the focus at Dee’s is less about education and more about providing the kids with meals, bathing and sleep.
Delores told Pacific Standard Magazine, “It was all about 9-to-5 daycare ten years ago. But now that the stores are open till 12 at night or even 24 hours a day, we are needed.”
“We have to do this.”
This could be for two reasons:
1. It's too expensive;
2. Parents may fear they will be judged for dropping children off at night.
Perhaps parents would feel more comfortable dropping their children off at family daycare in homes. Early Childhood Australia chief executive Samantha Page told The Age earlier this year, ''Previous trials of extended hours and overnight care over the years haven't proven popular with families, with too few children attending to justify keeping centres open late in the evening or overnight.'
