Will more regulation really help children?

I'm afraid those who advocate stricter regulation of day care in Idaho have confused more regulation with better day care.

Many government programs of regulation are utterly ineffective, with bureaucracies generating Mickey Mouse requirements that do not address real problems. In day care, the real issue is, Are children being given loving, sensitive care. Since bureaucrats don't know how to measure that, they focus on physical parameters like the size of windows, CPR certificates, and fingerprint checks.

Does regulation improve day care? Are children in highly regulated California day care establishments happier than children in less regulated Idaho ones? Do they suffer less emotional trauma? Are they sick with colds less often? The advocates of more regulation have made no attempt to answer these questions. Instead, with a childlike trust in government bureaucracies and the good intentions of politicians, they assume that everything will work out hunky-dory.

One point they need to consider is that imposing a burdensome regime of fees, inspections, and paperwork on small providers will prompt many to leave the field. This would be sad indeed, since these "grandma care" operations often give loving attention that commercial day care cannot. Working parents are eager to entrust their children to these tiny, family style day care services and it would do them and their children a great disservice to force these providers out of business.

JIM PAYNE

Sandpoint