Local day cares keep Western moms and dads on track

By Staff

April 21, 2012

Imagine a child crying, screaming, or just getting into trouble while you’re trying to study or do homework.  College students with children struggle through this every day — as if homework and tests weren’t enough.

Students already have a hard time making it through school, but if you include taking care of a child along with that, it can be even more difficult for some students. Although it can be a challenge, there are child care services around the St. Joseph area and on the Missouri Western campus.

Y’s Kids World at Western is a child care service that is offered to students.  There are about 26 children ages 2 through 6 that can attend this service.  The children have to be potty-trained and have all of their shots.  The service is open all week long for students to bring in their children while they’re in class.  Heather James, one of the caretakers for the children, explained what Y’s Kids World has to offer students.

“We offer a facility discount to all students, and mostly all the children here are around the same age so they can relate to each other and are familiar with their peers,” James said.

While some students receive help from day cares, some, like Ashton Justiniano, prefer to receive help from their own families because the cost of  a day care can be expensive. According to the Baby Center LLC, the average cost of child care centers are about $4,000-$7,000 a year. Sophomore Justiniano prefers a family member to take care of her 10-month-old little girl while she is in class.

She also expressed how it can be difficult, but also how she stays positive about being a mother and a student.

“I struggle with time to study and to do homework, because my daughter’s needs have to come before mine sometimes,” Justiniano said. “I have to remind myself that me finishing school is better for her future and to not only provide for her, but to set a good example about education and how important it is.”

Some of the difficulties that students have while raising children while attending school includes lack of sleep, stress, downfall of grades, anxiety, expenses and many more difficulties.  Despite the disadvantages, there are some students that still think positively even though it’s tough balancing the two.

Sophomore Natassja Hanttula has not only one, but two children to take care of while going to school.

“With kids, balance is the key; however, when your child says ‘let’s play,’ but you are doing homework, it can be tough,” Hanttula said. “Sometimes you have to put down the books and play a game of peek-a-boo.”

Jordan Shurvington