Parents demand freedom of choice: childcare in Lower Austria on the brink!

Parents demand freedom of choice: childcare in Lower Austria on the brink!

Niederösterreich, Österreich - The discussion about freedom of choice in childcare is becoming increasingly important. FPÖ children's and family spokeswoman LAbg. Edith Mühlberghuber has again emphasized that parents should have freedom to choose the right care model for their children. In a press release, she drew attention to the childcare offensive of the state of Lower Austria, which created nationwide care facilities and new kindergarten places. Nevertheless, Mühlberghuber sees the need that parental care should also be strengthened at home and that day parents should be expanded. In your understanding, the parents' house is the first educational institution, and not kindergarten. She rejects one -sided focus on external care because each family should choose according to their individual needs, says Mühlberghuber. This topic is particularly relevant at a time when many mothers who actually want to stay at home are forced to work to ensure their livelihood.

family policy in focus

The current discussion about freedom of choice in childcare takes place against the background of a comprehensive change in family policy. The spring conference of the German Bishops' Conference has also dealt with this topic. In particular, the role of state care for small children was critically questioned here. Bishop Walter Mixa commented negatively about the plans of Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen to triple the childcare places. Mixa used controversial terms, which emotionally heated up the discussion and reinforced the demands for a greater consideration of fathers in family policy.

FDP General Secretary Dirk Niebel recalled his own experiences on educational leave, which he felt as a formative time for both parents and children. His criticism of Bishop Mixa's statements pointed out the need to promote real freedom of choice for parents - even if that meant that many parents rely on childcare offers.

Need for diversified care models

The different family policy approaches that have been developed in the past 60 years in both Germany and Austria underline the need for diversified care models. Family policy has changed a lot in recent decades. In the past, the focus was on improving the Situation of post -war families, today a variety of family forms are taken into account. The development of family policy shows how important it is to meet the needs of all parents, especially single parents and families with several children.

At the same time, the expansion of support structures and cooperation opportunities for parents are a central concern. This could help increase the birth rate that increase from 1.34 children per woman in 2005 to 1.5 in 2015. A diversified childcare offer could better reconcile professions and family life.

In the discussion about freedom of choice in childcare, it becomes clear that politics should create the framework in order to give parents the opportunity to work, as well as freedom of choice if they want to stay at home. The demands go in the direction of better appreciation of family work and adequate support from state funds.