Among the many joys and wonders that are found in Louisiana such as the food cuisines, cultural artifacts, and the famous zydeco music, the challenges and joys of childcare are also evident. Among the 509,889 families that are in this region of which 192,190 are single parent households, 229,868 are children under the age of six needing child care.
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With a total of 1,824 number of daycare centers in Louisiana, one wonders whether or not there are enough to meet the growing needs of children, especially with a current total of 84,231 mothers who have children under the age of six. The most requested childcare that is received is for infants/toddlers on a full time basis for nontraditional hours care. These requests are normally for individuals whose jobs require them to work shift hours that extends beyond the 8 to 5:00 time slot.
Of the annual average cost of fulltime childcare in Louisiana, over $12,000 is paid to centers and over $7,000 is paid in a family child care home setting, with 8% of this income for married couples and 32% for single mothers. Families who get help with paying child care fall in the 29,000 range, while the children total 46,600 with 6,834 participating providers.
Despite the challenges and joys of childcare in Louisiana, it is a great a place to visit and to live for large or small families. Louisiana offers strong family values along with its rich heritage of food such jambalaya, gumbo, po’boy sandwiches, crawfish, pralines, and beignets. Great jazz and zydeco music can be found throughout the state. In addition, the schools are outstanding, cost of living is affordable, and it is a great place to raise children.
Whether travelling from the southern region, New Orleans or Baton Rouge, up to the northern area, Monroe or Ruston, you will find many common landmarks that link this state. They include plantation homes, folk art, and the Mardi Gras. Other features that bring this great state together as one are the outstanding New Orleans Saints and the LSU Tigers football teams. There is nothing that can separate the love of these two teams from the heart of Louisianans.
Louisiana along with its bayous, alligators, Cajun culture, oil refineries, shrimp fishing, French influences, sugar cane, street musicians, and dancing makes the region a fun and pleasurable atmosphere. They celebrate many festivals that include the Jazz Fest, Swamp Fest, Essence Festival, Melrose Arts & Crafts Festival, Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival, Zydeco Festival and French Quarter festival. Louisiana is the place that offers much to plan a visit around and it will always have you coming back for more saying, “Laissez le Bon temp rouler”.
