Parents Concerns with University’s Childcare Issues

In my recent years here at the University of Idaho, I have noticed that there are very few resources for parents of young children. I have talked to many parents, and they are in total agreement to this statement. Being a parent of three children, I agree with them. Children are also often seen with parents attending class, which can sometimes be a disturbance to other students. I talked to a student of the University of Idaho, Brianna Kirkham. She gave me some great insight to the some problems that parents with children are having on campus. Kirkham is also an employee of University of Idaho’s Childcare Center, so she had some much needed information to share with the public.
BIRD: Brianna, I know that many parents feel that there isn’t enough childcare available here on campus. I also know that there is a huge waiting list to get in to the on-campus childcare center; up to a year for some ages. As a parent and staff of the Childcare facility her on campus, what do you think the University of Idaho should provide for our parents that are students?
KIRKHAM: A solution to this problem is more on-campus childcare facilities. As of now, there is only one childcare facility on campus. And it is nearly off-campus, as it is located on Sweet Ave, on the southeast corner of campus. The location does have its pros and cons. It is good to have the children away from the hustle and bustle of campus for safety reasons, but it is also inconvenient to parents that it is so far away from campus that it takes an enormous amount of time from the location to some classes.
I think that the University of Idaho should open multiple centers. There should be different locations around campus; but all coinciding as one. Being able to take your child to a different location depending on the time and day would help parents out immensely. To help with tracking children, and help with confusion, the parent would have to sign up their child for each center with a schedule. For example: If I had class Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the AgSci building at 9:30 am, I would sign my child up for a center nearest that building for the times that I needed. On Tuesday and Thursday, I had class at 11:00 in the Albertson building, I could sign my child up for the center nearest that building for the times that I needed. Very strict planning on both the Childcare Program and the parents would be crucial. It would be like your class schedule, iron clad planning to make it where you have to be on time.
BIRD: Another major issue with on-campus childcare is the cost for each child. The University of Idaho Childcare price can range anywhere from $400 for a five year old to over $700 for an infant per month. That is not including anything extra for activities that the children would participate in.
KIRKHAM: The cost of the center should be more reasonable than its’ current rates. We need to remember that these are collage students who are trying to raise their children while attending school. These parents are ultimately trying to provide a better life for their family. Most students live on small part-time wages and school loans. In my personal experience, it is tough to make ends meet with the small amount each month. But providing a less expensive childcare could help these parents out by giving them a break in the huge financial burden of trying to provide a good childcare for their children.
BIRD: A small problem on campus would be for those expecting mothers. Most of the larger classrooms are equipped with tables and chairs in the back of each lecture hall. But many of the smaller rooms do not have these available. For an expectant mother in her later months of pregnancy, it is extremely difficult to fit into the provided chairs with built-in desks. Not only can she not put the desk down in front of her, but she also can’t write (or type; as it is now popular to bring a laptop to class) with a huge ball attached to the front of her.
KIRKHAM: I think that there should be regular table and chairs in all of the classrooms on campus available for these women. Let’s remember that it is already hard enough for her to have the woes of pregnancy on her mind, but then she has to walk Idaho’s campus, then try to fit into those ridiculously small desks, and try to concentrate in class. Since we can’t flatten campus, and un-worry her life with pregnancy stress, let’s at least help her out with the seating arrangements.
I had a great talk with Kirkham who gave me a lot of good information about some steps that the University of Idaho could make to help out our parents that are students. Being a parent herself, she knows that these upgrades could help out a lot on campus.