The Childcare Revolution Podcast

10/11/2021

Congratulations, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC)! Well deserved!

Last week the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care was presented with the Olivia Chow Child Care Champion Award at the Ontario Federation of Labour Convention. Here's what our Policy Coordinator, Carolyn, had to say while accepting the award:

"Thank you so much, on behalf of our Coalition, for awarding us with the 2021 Olivia Chow Child Care Champion Award, and to the OFL Women’s Committee for nominating us.

I believe this may be the first time that this honour has been awarded to an organization rather than an individual and I think that is such a testament to one of the main values that we hold at the coalition – that is in collaboration with one another that our movement gains strength.

Our coalition brings together non-profit child care programs, community organizations, labour unions, families and educators – all around one table to work together for a universal child care system in Ontario.

The OFL is one of the founding members of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care – and published one of our first major reports back in the 1980’s: Daycare Deadline 1990.

Well if 1990 was the daycare deadline – 2021 is the child care crunch time.

Over the last 18 months of the pandemic so many people have come to realize how critical child care is to our province’s economic and social recovery. Everyone it seems except our provincial government.

We have been fighting back against the Ford government’s cuts to child care, their delays in signing on to the federal plan, their attempts to privatize and marketize the child care sector.

And we will keep fighting and advocating along side all of you. We are a small organization, so it is our members that make all of our work possible as we continue the critically important advocacy for a child care system with
- Affordable fees for every family
- Decent work and pay for early childhood educators and child care workers
- Enough spaces for every child.

Thanks again, on behalf of all of us at the OCBCC, for this lovely honour.

16/10/2021

Next Thursday October 21st is Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day! This year’s theme is “Early Learning and Child Care Heroes” to acknowledge the incredible work that early childhood educators and child care workers have done throughout the pandemic. To continue to amplify the voices of early childhood educators and child care workers, we have an exciting week of action planned with our partners. Please nominate your Child Care Hero on Monday. Child care heroes are plentiful in the sector and this year, we invite you to share your experiences of these real life heroes. Please tell us what makes them a hero to you, whether it be providing moral support, being flexible with programming, or a special talent that brings strength to everyone around them, we want to hear about their impact. Winners will be selected at random (5 nominees, 5 nominators) to receive $50 gift cards and announced on October 22nd. We are also hosting a Heroes Rising Up Virtual Rally and Action on Tuesday October 19th. We also want to give a shout out to our OCBCC member Julia Cumsille for creating her "I'm and educator, what's your superpower" resource to help celebrate the day. Thanks for sharing Julia! The links can be found in our Bio at OCBCC81.

06/10/2021

The Ontario Throne Speech talks about highways but ignores child care, showing that the Ford Conservatives still haven't learned the simple lesson: child care is infrastructure. If they want a recovery "fueled by economic growth" child care is an absolute must. They should sign the federal child care plan ASAP.

If you agree, add your voice to the nearly 3000 that have signed our petition: https://www.childcareontario.org/sign_the_child_care_agreement

11/06/2021

Amazing opportunity for connection and enrichment with our beloved Patrícia Bee! 🤩🥰

The TCBCC is excited to present the first webinar in our Community Conversations series! The Curriculum Connections: Building Meaningful Curriculum for Young Children webinar, featuring Toronto-based ECE Patrícia Borges Nogueira, explores community driven interest-based curriculum, observations, extending play-based learning and the impact decent work has on our ability to engage in meaningful curriculum.

The webinar will be available starting Monday, June 14th until Monday July 12th. There is a $15.00 registration fee.

Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kAWvon9_Q2OiNEx-FwqhCQ

29/04/2021

A great piece to share with families and others to help to inform why a national child care system can work!

Please share with your family networks!

Many provinces' emergency child care solutions during the pandemic are proof that a well-designed, national child care program can be flexible, responsive and meet the needs of modern working parents.

22/03/2021

Hi everyone!

The second part is finally here! We had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Kayla from ECE, Honestly, a podcast dedicated to early childhood education and care coming all the way from British Columbia! Our hope by doing this crossover is to make strong connections and unite ECEs all over Canada. There’s a lot of interesting information within this episode as each province functions independently when it comes to ECEC. Maybe this will spark some ideas for the possible national child care system, let us know what you think!

Check out part 2 of 2 now!

Please listen, subscribe and share our podcast with your colleagues. Send your stories to [email protected], and follow us on twitter and on insta

Also don’t forget to check out ECE, Honestly on instagram at . Here’s a link to the podcast https://ecehonestly.buzzsprout.com.

Find us on the following platforms:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5fDVLj99kydMYpPmzNEsnF?si=s1OCDjHHT22QyQu4PQN59A

Google Podcast: * Currently updating *
https://podcasts.google.com?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zb3VuZGNsb3VkLmNvbS91c2Vycy9zb3VuZGNsb3VkOnVzZXJzOjgxNDcxMjA0Ny9zb3VuZHMucnNz

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/childcare-revolution-podcast-ep-9-part-2-b-c-on-crossover/id1522121670?i=1000513700997

YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Mjlmc-8WPYk

Patricia, Stephanie & Tegan - The Childcare Revolution Podcast

Our second part of our two part episode is available now! The Childcare Revolution Podcast had the opportunity to do collaborative episodes with ECE, Honestl...

19/03/2021

Check out this national report of COVID-19’s impact on the child care sector.

New publication from Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives co-authored by CRRU's Martha Friendly "Sounding the Alarm:
COVID-19’s impact on Canada’s precarious child care sector"

In CCPA's 7th annual survey of child care fees in 37 Canadian cities for children 0-6, researchers found substantial drops in enrolment due to COVID-19, while parent fees –which child care services rely upon to meet costs –remain unaffordably high in most cities.

Read the full report here: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/TheAlarm

19/03/2021

Child care cannot continue this way in Canada. We need affordable, accessible, high quality child care more than ever.

Carolyn Ferns and Amy O’Neil talk about a new report that found cities with highest child-care fees saw drop in enrolment.

18/02/2021

Take the survey! Let the OCBCC and the AECEO know how COVID-19 has impacted you and the ECEC sector.

The following survey was created by the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO) and the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC) to better understand how Covid-19 is impacting the ELCC sector and to inform our advocacy to the Ontario and Federal governments on behalf of the E...

09/02/2021

Hi everyone!

We’re back after a long wait with an exciting episode! We had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Kayla from ECE, Honestly, a podcast dedicated to early childhood education and care coming all the way from British Columbia! Our hope by doing this crossover is to make strong connections and unite ECEs all over Canada. There’s a lot of interesting information within this episode as each province functions independently when it comes to ECEC. Maybe this will spark some ideas for the possible national child care system, let us know what you think!

Check out part 1 of 2 now!

Please listen, subscribe and share our podcast with your colleagues. Send your stories to [email protected], and follow us on twitter and on insta

Also don’t forget to check out ECE, Honestly on instagram at . Here’s a link to the podcast https://ecehonestly.buzzsprout.com.

Find us on the following platforms:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/285vHcNMefGPKanLieKYAg?si=9l0uIpDuS52kdtG-UUNg7Q

Google Podcast:
https://podcasts.google.com?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zb3VuZGNsb3VkLmNvbS91c2Vycy9zb3VuZGNsb3VkOnVzZXJzOjgxNDcxMjA0Ny9zb3VuZHMucnNz

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-childcare-revolution-podcast/id1522121670

YouTube:
https://youtu.be/VeCJmsFWN9g

Patricia, Stephanie & Tegan - The Childcare Revolution Podcast

We’ve got a two part episode for you! The Childcare Revolution Podcast had the opportunity to do collaborative episodes with ECE, Honestly an ECEC podcast co...

20/01/2021

Let's hold this government accountable! Advocate for our OVERDUE rights and respect!

It's time for the Ontario government to protect and respect the ECEC sector. We know that educators are doing incredible work while facing many ongoing issues and challenges.

Today, the AECEO and the OCBCC are launching an open letter to Premier Ford and Minister Lecce with 10 ways they can protect and respect early childhood education and care in Ontario.

We need to show our collective voice and demand policy responses that truly protect and respect our sector in the short- and long-term.

Please visit our website to download a copy and find the link to sign on to the Open Letter: https://www.aeceo.ca/open_letter_protect_and_respect_early_childhood_education_and_care

17/01/2021

The perspectives of ECE students about care work in ECEC are needed in a research study! Contact [email protected] is you are interested! More info on link tree in our bio.

08/01/2021

Here we are in 2021. And this is... still a dream, but we've never come so close! Let's keep the government accountable to improve the status of child care, children, families, and educators!

http://childcare2020.ca/ What could childcare look like in 2020, if our federal and provincial governments actually invested in a universal and affordable sy...

17/12/2020

Hey folks, check out the CRRU's 12th Early Childhood Education and Care in Canada report! Our co-host Tegan is super proud to work alongside these strong child care researchers and advocates!

P/S: Our Christmas wish is a national early childhood education and care system in Canada.

It's here! CRRU is pleased to announce the release of Early Childhood Education and Care 2019.

You can access the full publication here: https://childcarecanada.org/publications/ecec-canada/20/12/early-childhood-education-and-care-canada-2019

Early Childhood Education and Care in Canada 2019 is the Childcare Resource and Research Unit’s 12th compilation of Canada-wide data on early learning and child care (ELCC) and related early childhood and family programs. The report integrates administrative data provided by provincial/territorial ELCC officials (its primary source of information), data from Statistics Canada and other relevant research. The ECEC in Canada reports have been published about every two years since 1992, allowing both cross-Canada and longitudinal tracking of ELCC programs and policy using a consistent approach to ensure comparable data over time and across Canada.

Consistently tracking data over time has always been a key goal for ECEC in Canada. However, this 12th version is specially important because the report will be able to provide benchmarks on key indicators of the state of Canadian early learning and child care before the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic has had a very substantial impact on ELCC provision, its workforce, policy and women’s labour force participation, this report’s focus on pre-pandemic data will provide an indispensable baseline to identify and analyze the pandemic’s effects.

The report provides detailed provincial/territorial descriptive information on child care and kindergarten programs including educator/teacher training, wages, ratios, group/class size, pedagogy, governance, affordability, and availability of spaces as well as budget allocations and pertinent demographic data such as the number of children, mothers' employment rates and more. It also offers a Canada-wide overview of how ELCC services are organized, government roles, Indigenous ELCC and parental leave.

ECEC in Canada 2019 will play a key role in contributing insights valuable to new public policy development as Canada tackles the critical issue of early learning and child care in the period of economic recovery from COVID-19 in the months and years ahead.

07/12/2020

"Moving to a more publicly managed, planned and intentional model of service development is one important piece of an effective strategy needed to address Canada’s child care dilemma"

NEW CRRU publication: Moving from private to public processes to create child care in Canada

https://childcarecanada.org/publications/other-publications/20/12/moving-private-public-processes-create-child-care-canada

This new paper examines how child care programs are created in Canada, contrasting the private Canadian approach upon which we primarily rely to the more publicly managed approach to service development used in better developed child care systems. It makes the argument that moving to a more publicly managed, planned and intentional model of service development is one important piece of the effective strategy needed to address Canada’s child care dilemma. As it describes, the insufficient, uneven supply of early learning and child care services will remain a barrier to meeting families’ need for child care equitably, fairly and effectively, impeding Canada’s ability for a vigorous recovery from the pandemic. In addition to exploring these issues, the paper describes six "public management tools", providing examples of how these can contribute a more public approach to expanding the supply of child care across Canada.

Today is also, fittingly, the 50th anniversary of the publication of the report of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission made a series of recommendations specific to child care, the intent of which are still relevant and unrealized today. To read more about the Royal Commission, see our special broadcast here: https://mailchi.mp/childcarecanada/special-broadcast-50-rcosw

03/11/2020

29/10/2020

Q: Will an online registry of unlicensed home child care mean there is more oversight?

A: No, a registry would simply put the current market of unregulated child care online with a government stamp of approval - no regulation.

The Ministry of Education posting claims an unlicensed child care registry could “help parents find [unlicensed] child care providers in their communities.”

An online registry is perhaps the laziest, cheapest and most disingenuous way for a government to claim they are addressing the child care crisis. Instead of actively working to create enough quality licensed child care spaces for all, a registry would simply put the current grey market of informal child care online without oversight or regulation. It’s just the Ministry of Education acting as a glorified Kijiji.

An unlicensed child care registry would give parents a false sense of security, as they may expect that there is a level of government oversight of these providers when none exists. Also, many people associate the word “Registered” with the protected title of Registered Early Childhood Educator, adding to the confusion.

An unlicensed child care registry was first proposed in 1981, in the form of a government-sponsored referral network. Trumpeted by the government of the day as an “innovative approach” to the child care shortage, it’s much less innovative four decades later to continue reliance on unregulated child care rather than building a quality licensed child care system.

An online registry was also proposed in 2010, with almost exactly the same wording as the current proposal, but was rejected then, too, following public outcry and a series of deaths in unlicensed care.

We will not be silent on this, and we need to hear from you.
- AECEO/OCBCC Survey: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdKGJU2FALMJS.../viewform
- Email response template: https://drive.google.com/.../1GiVMJFXv0hgYdFoP8szu73.../view (Email your response to the Ministry of Education by November 20th at: [email protected] (and cc us)
- Sign our petition: https://www.childcareontario.org/rising_up_petition
- Tell your MPP & MP we need a national child care plan with Decent Work for all.

28/10/2020

Q: Are the changes to staff to child ratios really that drastic?
A: Yes.

Yes, the changes to age groupings, ratios and group sizes are really that drastic. Overall, the ratio changes place younger children in larger groups with fewer educators. Many educators will know that children's interests and needs vary widely depending on their age. We also know there are hardly enough moments in the day now to balance meaningful engagement and experiences with children and other responsibilities.

Imagine a toddler room now. You have 15 busy two-year olds moving around, some who are still getting steady on their feet, others confidently jumping, running and climbing. Three educators (at least 1 who’s qualified), engaging the group in various experiences while running a diaper routine (most all of the children, of course, are still in diapers). Now, add nine preschoolers to the room. Imagine. No more staff, no more adults, no more resources or supports. Just nine more children, for a total of 24 children between 24 months and 5 years. What becomes possible in your imagination? Increased quality, meaningful time and engagement with children? More likely, the opposite.

To be specific, the proposed changes to ratio suggest this:

- Infants: Currently children from 0-18 months are in a maximum group of 10, with 1 educator per 3 children. The proposed changes mean that infants will now be in a group of children 0-24 months, there can be up to 12 children, and sometimes 1 educator per 4 children.

- Toddlers: Currently children from 18 months - 2.5 years are in a maximum group size of 15. They have 1 educator per 5 children. The proposed changes mean that toddlers will either be in the Infant age group, or the preschool age group.

- Preschool: Currently children from 2.5 - 5 years are in a preschool group, with a maximum of 16 or 24 children. There is 1 educator for 8 children. Under the government’s current proposal, 24 month olds could be placed in a preschool room with 24 children up to age 5 years old, with 1 educator for 8 children.

What these proposals do is threaten the quality of experiences of young children, whether they be a 6 month old crawling beside a 20 month old who is learning to use scissors, or a 26 month old being rushed through routine learning moments to keep up with the other preschoolers. What these proposals do is increase the burden on educators to create meaningful, ethical, intentional experiences with young children, while balancing the important work of ensuring the children’s emotional, social, and physical safety and well-being.

What these proposals do not do is increase access, affordability and quality in child care. They do not ensure decent work and professional pay for educators. They do not ensure Indigenous communities can organize and deliver Indigenous-led community responsive programming. They do not ensure all children have access to quality programs. They do not ensure all children have their needs met, or create conditions that ensure all children are honoured, listened to, and respected.

We will not be silent on this, and we need to hear from you.

- Fill out the AECEO/OCBCC Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKGJU2FALMJSZ2d94V9eGG4osLVq9zM9z5gf13yDSht5njcg/viewform

- Send an email response to the Ministry at: [email protected] (and cc us - see tools here: https://www.aeceo.ca/cceya_survey)

- Tell your MPP & MP we need a national child care plan with Decent Work for all.

26/10/2020

Q: Will changes to qualification requirements negatively impact RECEs in Ontario?
A: Yes.

Yes. The proposed changes to qualifications will negatively impact RECEs in Ontario. Currently the proposal will:
- remove requirements for RECEs in Kindergarten and School Age groups,
- remove requirements for supply staff to have RECE qualifications, and
- allow supervisors to have no previous experience working in licensed child care programs.

These proposed changes will mean that many programs could operate without an RECE in the room, both temporarily and full-time. This threatens existing and future RECE positions across the province, as positions that now require staff to be RECEs could instead be staffed by someone with alternative qualifications (recreation and leisure services, child and youth care, and OCT).

This change is being proposed for the Kindergarten and School Age groups, which makes up about 61% of licensed child care spaces in Ontario. Roughly 17,465 ECE positions could be lost.

These proposed changes also undermine the value and scope of practice of RECEs. According to the Early Childhood Educators Act and highlighted by the College of Early Childhood Educators,

“The ECE Act defines the practice of early childhood education as "the planning and delivery of inclusive play-based learning and care programs for children in order to promote the well-being and holistic development of children, and includes: Delivery of programs to children 12 years or younger...”

“Only College members can practice the profession of early childhood education and use the protected titles "Early Childhood Educator" and "Registered Early Childhood Educator" along with the professional designations ECE, RECE and their French equivalents.The purpose of a protected title is to assure the public that any person who uses it has met the education and other requirements for entry into the profession. The protected title also assures the public that any person who uses it is accountable to practise the profession of early childhood education in accordance with the ethical and professional standards set by the College.”

These proposed changes suggest two things: (1) Kindergarten and School Age programs are no longer places where early childhood education is practiced, or (2) early childhood educators are no longer required for early childhood education to occur. Both of these outcomes set a precedent that will threaten the practice of early childhood educators.

Our profession has fought for respect and recognition and this is a dangerous step in the wrong direction.

We know that there are staffing challenges, especially given the context of COVID-19. But to respond by undermining our profession, undermining RECEs, and threatening the future of early childhood education is not acceptable. There is another way. We need decent work and pay so RECEs aren’t forced out of the sector. We will not be silent on this, and we need to hear from you.

1. Fill out and share the AECEO/OCBCC Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKGJU2FALMJSZ2d94V9eGG4osLVq9zM9z5gf13yDSht5njcg/viewform

2. Send an email response to the Ministry at: [email protected] (and cc us - see tools here: https://www.aeceo.ca/cceya_survey)

3. Tell your MPP & MP we need a national child care plan with Decent Work for all.

24/10/2020

story 20: Emily

**Content Warning - Pregnancy Loss
** This powerful and emotional story shows us why it’s so important that we rise up. Together we can take action to support and protect the women in our sector who face loss and heartbreak.**

“2016 was a very hard year. It started off with being hospitalized for weeks due to an outbreak in the childcare centre I worked in, without pay due to a new policy of earning your sick days throughout the year. During this time, I had to continue to pay for my youngest child care costs. It was so stressful, I didn’t know how we would get through it, but we did.

I was so happy and grateful when we had some good news - I was pregnant with my second child! We were so excited to welcome a new member of our family into this world, something we wanted with our whole hearts. At my three month ultrasound, I found out that my child was not going to make the appearance we had already started planning for. I lost my baby. The floor fell out from under me. What could ever be worse than this moment.

I quickly found out, according to centre policy, this was not a medical issue and they told me (with sympathy) that I needed to buck up and continue to work as normal. I was encouraged to be back to work as soon as possible, meaning, the next day. Foggy minded I went about my work day only being able to think about what was happening inside me. The heavy bleeding a constant reminder.

There was a reason my administrator expected me to be at work, there was not enough staff or supply to be able to keep the centre open without me coming to work. To add to this, no policy acknowledged a miscarriage as a loss until 16 weeks gestational. In those moments, I was stuck between my feelings of responsibility to the children and the program, and my responsibility to myself. I know my administrator cared, I know she didn’t know better – but that doesn’t make this okay.

The following week I was booked for a post-miscarriage surgery. There was no one able to cover my shift so I was asked to come into work the morning of the surgery and leave on my lunch to make it in time, the assistant supervisor would cover the afternoon. I was so shocked I didn’t even push back – I had used all my strength to get through the past week, my tank was empty. I was back to work 48-hours post-surgery and life went on. That’s how I remember my lost child, with stress, unacknowledged sadness, and feeling like just another cog in the wheel.

In a sector that is so full of women, I know I’m not alone. I know other women are out there in silence, going to work through the tears, the bleeding, the sadness. It’s not easy to share this story, it still feels as if it was yesterday. But it’s past time we acknowledged women’s health in child care, ensured access to paid leave, and build a system so that this story doesn’t happen to another woman. Enough is enough, this needs to stop.”
-------------------------------
Share your story. Sign the petition. Rise up for child care. https://www.childcareontario.org/risingup

To help us advocate for paid sick days for all, visit the Decent Work & Health Network: https://www.decentworkandhealth.org/paidsickdays

22/10/2020

Have your say! Complete our survey on the Ontario government’s child care regulation changes

On October 2 the Ministry of Education released Proposed Regulatory Amendments as part of its 5-year review of the Child Care and Early Years Act. Along with our partners the AECEO, we are launching a survey to gather your feedback on the proposals to help shape our response. We encourage all educators, parents, operators, child care providers to take 10 minutes to have your say. Your voice matters. Please also share among your networks. The survey will be open until November 2, 2020.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKGJU2FALMJSZ2d94V9eGG4osLVq9zM9z5gf13yDSht5njcg/viewform

22/10/2020

Special Episode: Happy ECE Appreciation Day

Happy ECE and Childcare Worker Appreciation Day! At the Childcare Revolution Podcast wish all ECE and Childcare folks a day filled with reasons to smile. Being an ECE really is a unique experience, isn’t it? We recorded this quick special to share what we love about being ECEs and what we wish for our sector in the next year. What would your answers be to those questions? We’d love to hear from you. Once again, thank you for your support. We love reading your comments and messages and we love doing the podcast.
Please listen, subscribe and share our podcast with your colleagues. Send your stories to [email protected], and follow us on twitter and on insta

Find us on the following platforms:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6XywMd1uJLty8UIRIzGFCG?si=LCLjLBccQyCmafOV7808eg

Google Podcast:
https://podcasts.google.com?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zb3VuZGNsb3VkLmNvbS91c2Vycy9zb3VuZGNsb3VkOnVzZXJzOjgxNDcxMjA0Ny9zb3VuZHMucnNz

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-childcare-revolution-podcast/id1522121670

YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Gv6p-VnNwCQ

Patricia, Stephanie & Tegan - The Childcare Revolution Podcast

Happy ECE Appreciation Day!!! ❤️🥳 We appreciate everything that you do as educators and we’re going to let the world know. The Childcare Revolution Podcast i...

15/10/2020

COVID-19 has revealed the cost of governments’ failure to support and manage early learning and care as a foundational need of Canada's economy and society.

09/10/2020

The proposed changes are a step in the wrong direction. It shows us that the government and its “sector partners” are not concerned about quality care for children and families or decent work conditions for staff. Can you imagine how chaotic life would be with the proposed ratios? How would they impact your practice and pedagogy?