Recognizing Parenting as an Essential Economic Contribution
Is it possible that parents have been quietly building our economy all along? Gasp – what a concept - that those countless hours spent nurturing future workers, innovators, and leaders might actually have economic value.
Imagine, if you will, a world where we acknowledge that teaching a child emotional regulation might be just as valuable as meeting quarterly earnings targets. Those daily, unwavering moments of guiding children through conflicts, processing emotions, and building resilience? Turns out they're fostering employees who can regulate their stress response in high-pressure situations.
Consider this: research shows that quality early care and involved parenting contribute to improved child development outcomes. When parents and caregivers are supported, children benefit from stronger foundations for learning and growth.
Are we too shortsighted to see how today's parental investment is a cornerstone for tomorrow's economic foundation?
Let me rephrase that…
Are we BRAVE enough to see how today's parental investment is a cornerstone for tomorrow's economic foundation?
Here's a proposition: what if we stopped treating parenting as something that happens outside the economy and started recognizing it as essential economic infrastructure? What if we acknowledged that parents are their children's first financial advisors? Those conversations about allowances, saving, and delayed gratification might actually shape future economic behaviors.
What if we recognized that the stability of our future economy hinges on parents—our primary caregivers—being present, proximate, and purposeful in their role?
One final thought - does parenting need to have economic value for us to recognize its profound worth to society?
The Smart Start Network, led by the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC), is transforming early childhood care and education across the state. In the next few articles, I’ll explore how insights from their annual review connect to our nonprofit model and inspire new ways to support families and children in our community.