67% of parents spend 20% or more of their household income on child care, up from 51% in 2022, according to an annual report by Care.com. To compare, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers 7% of household income affordable for child care. The cost...
Children
Managing Stress as a Massachusetts Parent
Stress is a natural response to a threat or a challenge. It’s our mind’s and body’s way of preparing us to respond to something difficult or unexpected. When we experience stress, our bodies have a physical reaction, and our minds race. Massachusetts family life can...
Massachusetts Is The Best Place To Raise A Family
A January report from WalletHub compared the 50 states to determine the best place in the country to raise a family. States were evaluated and ranked across five key dimensions: Family Fun Health & Safety Education & Child Care Affordability Socio-economics...
5 Things Parents Should Know About Social Media’s Impact on Massachusetts Teens’ Mental Health
Slightly more than half of U.S. teens spend at least four hours a day on social media and on average, all teens spend close to five, according to a recent Gallup survey , whose findings underscore the growing alarm over social media’s role in the youth mental health...
The Percentage of Massachusetts Women in the Workforce is Declining
The percentage of Boston metro area-women who recently gave birth and remain in the workforce has been slowly shrinking since 2019 but remains well above the national average, per new census data. Why it matters: Motherhood often knocks women out of the labor force,...
Massachusetts Has Healthiest Children in United States
For the fifth consecutive year, a national report is highlighting key data that shows infants and toddlers face increasing challenges related to income inequality, housing, child care, physical health and mental health depending on where they live in the United...
Massachusetts Fathers – Your Involvement Is Key to Child’s Education
Listen up, Massachusetts dads — playing with your kids could help them do better in school. A study led by the University of Leeds found that children do better in school if their dads engage in activities with them like reading, drawing, singing and telling stories....
Childcare Costs in Massachusetts Significantly Higher Than Other States
Childcare expenses in Massachusetts are increasingly swallowing up family budgets as pandemic-era federal relief comes to an end, a landmark new survey lays bare. Figures from the non-profit United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA), the cost of childcare for...
Massachusetts Latest State to Propose Baby Bonds
The state of Massachusetts is considering launching a government program that would invest in every child at birth, according to the Boston Globe. Called “baby bonds,” the groundbreaking proposal would create a savings account for every eligible child. Upon reaching...
How to Prepare to Be a Massachusetts Father
Jumping into fatherhood in Massachusetts can be intimidating. Many of us have not had involved fathers or learned the same skills as the women in our families. The reality is, there is no way to be fully prepared for parenthood — most moms are figuring it out as they...