Speaker: Keyonna Neal, Georgia Parent (Atlanta, GA)
Please introduce yourself, including the city you live in, the ages of your child(ren), & whether they attend child care.
Keyonna Neal: Hi, my name is Keyonna Neal. I live in Atlanta, Georgia. I am a mom of three wonderful boys. I have 2 twin toddlers. They're 1 year-olds, and I have a 3-year-old toddler. He is autistic. My 3 year old is in elementary school, and my twin 1 year olds are at home with me. I don't feel comfortable with anyone watching them in child care. I have not found anyone that feels warm to me to watch them, and child care is extremely expensive.
What criteria do you look for in a child care provider or caregiver for your children?
Keyonna Neal: What do I look for in a caregiver or child care provider? I look for someone who is well communicative. I look for someone who feels warm, energy is well- rounded, has a passion for working with children, who has experience in working with twins, and also who has experience with working with children who has special needs, so I can feel that my children will be safe, but also with someone who is knowledgeable.
What challenges has your family experienced affording and finding child care?
Keyonna Neal: Childcare is a challenge because it's extremely expensive, especially when you have even just one child, but more than one child, and I am very skeptical about people's knowledge in working with children who have autism. A lot of people are not knowledgeable around children who have special needs and autism. They're just not willing to learn and be patient with them. So child care can be a challenge.
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