Finding childcare for your kids

Parents are having a hard time finding childcare opportunities during the pandemic and on summer break.

AS PART OF OURREBOUND K-C INITIATIVEWE WANT TO HELP YOUGET THROUGH SOME OFTHE STRANGEST TIMESMANY OF US HAVE EVERSEEN.ONE OF THE BIG HURDLESFOR PARENTS RIGHT NOWIS WHERE TO FINDCHILDCARE - AND HOW TOKNOW IF IT"S SAFE.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER CHARLIEKEEGAN SPOKE TO ACOUPLE OF PARENTSLOOKING FOR THEANSWER.THIS IS THE STORY OFTWO APPROACHES TO THESAME QUESTION: WHAT DOWORKING PARENTS DOWITH CHILDREN ONSUMMER BREAK IN THEMIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC?Nats - dad with babyFIRST BEN WALNICK.HE IS NOT NERVOUSABOUT PUTTING HISDAUGHTER IN DAY CAREDURING THE PANDEMIC.HIS PROBLEM IS HE CAN'TFIND A DAYCARE WITHOPENINGS.FOUR-MONTH-OLD MARA ISON SEVERAL WAITINGLISTS.Ben Walnick // looking forchildcare22:16:42 22:16:48"Tell me how realistic it isthatI'm going to be able to get inin July."NEXT THERE'S DOCTORTONY ZINK.SHE FOUND A CAMP WITHOPENINGS TO WATCH HERKIDS WHILE SHE WORKS ATSAMUEL RODGERS HEALTHCENTER.BUT SHE'S NERVOUS HER 7AND TEN-YEAR OLDWOULD BE EXPOSED TOTHE VIRUS AT A CAMP.SO SHE DROVE THEM 12HOURS TO HER MOM'SHOUSE IN HOUSTON TEXASFOR THE SUMMER.Dr. Toni Zink // Sent childrento grandparents' home22:01:20-22:01:24"I decided it would be easier tohave them with family so wecould control the environmentmore."RIGHT NOW EVERYCOUNTY AND CITY IN OURAREA ALLOWS DAY CARESTO OPEN AND SUMMERCAMPS TO TAKE PLACE INSOME CAPACITY.-standup-A GROUP CALLED"CHILDCARE AWARE"OFFERS A FREE SEARCHENGINE WHERE PARENTSCAN FIND CHILD CAREFACILITIES WITHVACANCIES TODAY.Nats- childEXPERTS SAY MOREFACILITIES WILL REOPEN -OR ACCEPT MORECHILDREN - AS MISSOURIAND KANSAS BOTH HANDOUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARSFROM THE FEDERALCARES ACT TO DAYCAREFACILITIES.Dr. Toni Zink // Sent childrento grandparents' home21:59:21-21:59:28"Kids are so resilient.

Theyjust adapt to whateverchanges are going on.

I thinkthey're way more resilient thanadults."ZINK HOPES HER DECISIONPAYS OFF,AND WALNICK ISWATCHING THE CLOCKBECAUSE HIS TEMPORARYIN-HOME NANNY ISLEAVING TOWN SOON -LEAVING HIM AT SQUAREONE.Ben Walnick // looking forchildcare22:17:48 22:17:53"We've just got our hands tiedbehind our back and are justkind of waiting."REPORTING IN KCMOCHARLIE KEEGAN 41ACTION NEWS TODAY.WHEN CHARLIEINTERVIEWED DOCTORZINK - HE ASKED HER FORSOME ADVICE FROM THEMEDICAL SIDE OF THINGS.HERE ARE A FEWQUESTIONS SHESUGGESTS YOU ASKBEFORE SENDING YOURCHILD TO A SUMMER CAMPOR DAYCAREWHAT PROTOCOLS ARE INPLACE FOR HANDWASHING OR HANDSANITIZING.WHAT ARE YOUR SOCIALDISTANCING RULES?WHEN DO KIDS HAVE TOWEAR MASKS?WHAT WILL YOU DO IF ACHILD SHOWS SYMPTOMSOF COVID-19?AND IF YOU HIRE AN IN-HOME NANNY - HAVE NOFEAR ASKING THEMWHETHER THEY VISITCROWDED PLACES ANDWEAR A MASK WHEN NOTAT YOUR HOUSE.