J.D. Vance suggests grandparents provide child care. Many can’t afford to help.

About the recent suggestion

J.D. Vance, a Republican Senate candidate from Ohio, came up with a suggestion. He suggested that grandparents should provide child care for their grandchildren. This is because high-quality childcare is expensive. The average annual cost of center-based care for an infant is $10,131.

GOP’s solution to lack of childcare

The Republican Party has suggested various ways to address the lack of affordable childcare in the United States. One suggestion is to increase the availability of tax credits for families that use child care services. Another suggestion is to provide more funding for child care subsidies.

The reality of cost

AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, conducted a survey in 2020. The survey found that 44% of grandparents who provide child care do not receive any financial compensation for doing so. Of those who do receive compensation, the median amount is only $265 per month.

The need for increased wages

For many grandparents, providing child care is not a viable option. They may not be able to afford to give up their own jobs to care for their grandchildren. They may also not be able to afford the additional costs of child care, such as food, diapers, and activities.

Conclusion

Many grandparents are willing to provide child care for their grandchildren. However, the reality is that many cannot afford to do so. The GOP needs to come up with more realistic solutions to the lack of affordable childcare in the United States.