Home care allowance plan overlooks child's perspective

A proposal to eliminate Finland's home care allowance has ignited a debate, with critics arguing that the plan fails to adequately consider the developmental needs of young children.

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Although society and its structures change, a child's need for care does not change.

The proposed abolition, reported in early June, is presented as a logical step in the ongoing societal discussion about child-rearing solutions. The underlying aim appears to be encouraging parents, both mothers and fathers, to return to the workforce as soon as possible after a child's birth, reflecting a changing world and evolving systems.

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The world is changing and systems along with it.

However, the core issue of a child's need for care is often overlooked amidst these societal shifts. While the proposal comes from respected social science and economics researchers focused on gender equality in the labor market, it neglects the developmental requirements of children under three. Experts emphasize that infants need a primary caregiver to form a secure attachment in their first year. Over the next few years, maintaining a close bond with parents or guardians remains paramount, as large group settings can be stressful for very young children.

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In all of this, one essential thing is often forgotten: although society and its structures change, a child's need for care does not change.

If the home care allowance is indeed abolished, effectively removing a state-supported option for child-rearing that favors young children, it would be a decision driven primarily by economic considerations and based on incomplete research, according to the author.

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The study does not sufficiently consider the developmental needs of a child under three.