The Challenges and Joys of Childcare in Nebraska
Nebraska has a population of about 1.7 million residents, mostly located in the more populated Eastern part of the state. Quality childcare facilities abound in Nebraska. With nearly 110,000 families in Nebraska needing childcare– 28 percent of those being single-parent households–887 childcare centers are available for filling those needs. Additionally, Nebraska boasts 2,590 family childcare homes. Fourteen percent of Nebraska’s families live in poverty; while this number is well below the national average, it still speaks to a need for reasonable childcare fees and government assistance to help cover childcare costs. As with all states, many state and Federal programs are in place to help low-income families afford quality childcare in Nebraska. Nebraskans pride themselves on their family-centered culture, and daycare centers are no exception. Thirty percent of Nebraska families request nontraditional daycare hours, while 14 percent take advantage of many before- and after-school programs. Fifty-eight percent have their infant or toddler in childcare. Most centers are flexible and happy to help families find the care that’s right for them.
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- Over 10 Years Placing Nannies
- Over 450,000 Members
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- Over 100,000 Members and Growing
- Online INA Basic Skills Assessments
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- The Original Online Nanny Placement Agency
- Over 12 Years with Nanny Classified Services
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Nebraska features an abundance of family-centered activities, both in nature and in urban areas. Lincoln and Omaha are child-friendly cities; Lincoln was recently named one of the top ten places to raise children by Parenting Magazine. With a city park within a half mile of each residence, Lincoln prides itself on green spaces and active children. Omaha is home to the renowned Henry Doorly Zoo, which features a jungle dome and a desert dome, among other award-winning habitat exhibits. Both cities have a large number of arts and music festivals each year. Out west, Nebraska is home to the Sandhills, a one-of-a-kind landscape featuring low, rolling hills dense with vegetation. The Platte River, Niobrara River and Lake McConaughy offer a wide range of water activities, and Ashfall Fossil Beds is a popular destination for families with its ongoing archaeological dig, uncovering fossils of large mammals, birds and other prehistoric animals who met their demise 12 million years ago as a result of a volcano in what is now southwest Idaho. The most famous natural spectacle in Nebraska is the yearly migration of Sandhill cranes that occurs each March. Hundreds of thousands of these large birds stop at the Platte river before continuing north. People from all over the world visit during this time for festivals, bird watching and the hopes of spotting a rare, endangered Whooping crane.
