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<p>Pride month is about celebrating diversity and individuality, especially recognizing the LGBTQ+ community. Educators and parents can use this month as an opportunity to <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/articles/5-tips-to-explain-pride-month-to-kids">explain Pride celebrations</a> and LGBTQ identity to kids. Books are not only a great educational resource for this purpose, but also provide an opportunity to show diverse representation during everyday activities. Here are seven of our favorite Pride books for kids that every family can add to their bookshelves.  </p>



<h2>7 Best LGBTQ Kids Books to Have On Your Bookshelves</h2>



<p>Books are more than just stories. They teach us essential life lessons and can be used as educational tools for young children, especially when it comes to talking about diversity, inclusion and gender identity. With the help of illustrated books and engaging characters, your child will have new tools to understand the history and purpose of  Pride month. </p>



<h3>1. Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer</h3>



<p>This is a delightful book that teaches children that not all families look the same. In &#8216;<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-makes-a-family-sophie-beer/1129348561?ean=9780525554226">Love Makes a Family</a>&#8216; by Sophie Beer, we are reminded that what truly makes a family is love. Whether you have two dads, two moms, a single parent or any other family structure, small acts of love and kindness are the actions that bind us all together.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>2. My Two Moms and Me by Michael Joosten</h3>



<p>Next on our list of Pride books for kids is &#8216;<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-two-moms-and-me-michael-joosten/1128997207?ean=9780525580126">My Two Moms and Me</a>&#8216; by Michael Joosten. This adorable book tells the story of several same-sex lesbian couples that are busy moms who love looking after their children. Join them as they go on playdates, have fun at the swimming pool, and enjoy breakfast time as a family.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>3. Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love</h3>



<p>This LGBTQ children&#8217;s book highlights acceptance, individuality, and freedom of expression. &#8216;<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/juli-n-is-a-mermaid-jessica-love/1136744288?ean=9780763690458">Julian is a Mermaid</a>&#8216; by Jessica Love follows a child named Julian as he admires the spectacular outfits of three women on the subway. When he arrives home, he begins an adventure to express himself by making his own magical mermaid costume. This is a story of self-love and self-acceptance.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>4. Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart</h3>



<p>The rainbow – a symbol of the LGBTQ community – is a great developmentally appropriate entry point for authentic conversations about the beauty we can find in variety.  &#8216;<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rainbow-michael-genhart-phd/1129812154?ean=9781433830877">Rainbow: A First Book of Pride</a>&#8216; by Michael Genhart is one of our favorite ways to introduce children of all ages to Pride month. Full of bright, eye-catching illustrations, this book celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride and tells the beautiful meaning behind each color of the rainbow. </p>



<h3>5. Daddy, Papa, and Me by Leslea Newman</h3>



<p>Another esssential Pride book for kids is &#8216;<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daddy-papa-and-me-leslea-newman/1102302284?ean=9781582462622">Daddy, Papa, and Me</a>&#8216; by Leslea Newman. This heartwarming book uses a rhythmic cadence and beautiful illustrations to tell the story of a toddler and his two dads. This family&#8217;s activities during the story – playing hide and seek, bathtime, and kissing each other goodnight – will be relatable to any young child, and serves as a great opportunity to represent how families can be different but also the same.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>6. Albert the Confused Manatee by Christopher Straub</h3>



<p>Part of a child’s development is understanding who they are as a person and finding their place in the world. &#8216;<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/albert-the-confused-manatee-christopher-straub/1121773470?ean=9780692258217">Albert the Confused Manatee</a>&#8216; by Christopher Straub is an excellent illustration of this journey, and a must-have for any Pride reading list. This book talks about the journey of self-discovery. With help from his underwater friends, Albert learns that even though he is a different animal from his friends, they all have similarities too.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>7. The Boy with the Rainbow Heart by William Mason</h3>



<p>&#8216;<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-boy-with-the-rainbow-heart-william-mason/1127290497?ean=9781985818668">The Boy With the Rainbow Heart</a>&#8216; by William Mason, is an excellent resource for teaching self-acceptance. This story follows a young boy with a rainbow heart who introduces colors to the town of Grey. Through the act of being himself, the town of Grey experiences love and kindness and learns how to accept those who are different.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Pride Month for Kids: Celebrate With Books</h2>



<p>There is no better way to celebrate the festivities of June than with pride books for kids. While we adore the LGBTQ kids&#8217; books mentioned above, there are many more excellent books that your family can explore.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Here at Vivvi, we promote equity and inclusion in every classroom–not just during Pride, but all year long. Parents can and should play a role in this conversation, too; celebrating diversity builds awareness and empathy, which is so important for your children’s growth and development. <a href="https://vivvi.com/contact">Get in touch</a> with us to learn more about our early learning program.&nbsp;</p>


Are you looking for great Pride books for kids that your family can enjoy? We’ve gathered a list of our favorite LGBTQ kids’ books to read this June. 

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7 Pride Books for Kids to Read During Pride Month


<p>Childcare costs are still an issue for many parents across the United States. This crisis doesn&#8217;t seem to be going away anytime soon, and it is already impacting working parents&#8217; return to the labor force. As an employer, it is your job to ensure employees have the support they need to have a successful work-life balance. This means providing them with <a href="https://vivvi.com/employers">employer-sponsored childcare</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Below, we&#8217;ll discuss the childcare cost crisis for working parents right now and what companies can do to address this crisis from now on.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Childcare Costs: Is There Still a Crisis?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Despite the economy rebounding, childcare costs are soaring. Many in this industry face challenges, including labor shortages and low wages. Working parents have struggled for years to access affordable, high-quality childcare. A lack of government funding and an inadequate supply of childcare programs continue to be two leading causes of this struggle.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The pandemic gave new energy to the childcare crisis debate. The last two years highlighted how broken the childcare system is. Many childcare providers shut down, and millions of mothers left the labor market to focus on childcare responsibilities. This scenario proved how vital childcare support is for many US employees&#8217; financial security and well-being.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With a continued lack of access to childcare, it is no wonder that the cost of these services is rising again. Without intervention, the challenges faced by this industry will have severe consequences for many other sectors.</p>



<h2>How Much Does Childcare Cost? Let&#8217;s Take a Look At the Math</h2>



<p>Some employers believe that the childcare crisis is not their issue to solve. But, that is far from the truth. If your employees cannot afford or access childcare, this has a more significant impact on your business than you realize. To understand how this crisis affects your employees, let&#8217;s look at the reality of childcare costs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>The <a href="https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/FINAL-Demanding%20Change%20Report-020322.pdf?utm_campaign=Budget%20Reconciliation%20Fall%202021&amp;amp;utm_source=website&amp;amp;utm_content=22_demandingchange_pdf">Demanding Change report</a> found that families across the United States were paying approximately $10,174 for childcare in 2020. In terms of national median household income, this backs out to 10% for married couples and 35% for single parents. This means that many families are paying the equivalent of their mortgage payment or twice the cost of a car payment on childcare services. Yet, according to the federal government, childcare costs should never be more than <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-09-30/pdf/2016-22986.pdf">7% of a household income</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In New York state, childcare costs are slightly higher than the national average. NYC childcare costs range anywhere from $11,000 to $21,000 annually, depending on your child&#8217;s age. According to the <a href="https://www.epi.org/child-care-costs-in-the-united-states/#/NY">Economic Policy Institute</a>, childcare for infants in New York costs on average $1,283 per month.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This is what working parents in NYC are typically paying for childcare for each of their children based on age:&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li><strong>Infant</strong>: $1,760 per month</li><li><strong>Toddler</strong>: $1,365 per month</li><li><strong>Preschooler</strong>: $968 per month</li><li><strong>School-age</strong>: $802 per month</li></ul>



<p>If your employees are based in New York City, for these families to comfortably pay 7% &#8211; 8% of their median income on childcare costs, they would need to earn at least $112 per hour. These figures don&#8217;t even account for health costs, cost of living, rent, and mortgage payments.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The math is straightforward: working parents can&#8217;t navigate the childcare crisis alone.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Working Parents Aren&#8217;t The Only Ones Feeling the Pinch</h2>



<p>The childcare crisis is already impacting the labor market, and employers are starting to feel the pinch. Right now, companies are facing one of the most challenging hiring markets as many working parents are can&#8217;t return to the workforce due to soaring childcare costs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Consider this: there have been approximately <a href="https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/behavioral-competencies/global-and-cultural-effectiveness/pages/over-1-million-fewer-women-in-labor-force.aspx">2 million fewer women in the labor market</a> since the beginning of the pandemic. Despite a highly-competitive hiring market, labor force participation continues to fall. According to the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, figures are still below what they were in February 2020. This is due to the rising costs of childcare.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Many companies are struggling to retain their current workforce, and the future of hiring doesn&#8217;t look too bright either. A smaller talent pool of experienced workers means employers will find it harder to attract and retain great talent &#8211; especially working mothers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Unless employers commit to being part of the solution, the childcare crisis will have devastating impacts on the labor market for years to come.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>How Companies Can Overcome Issues Caused by Rising Childcare Costs&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Employers must act now to build <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/employers/articles/blog-build-parent-inclusive-workplace">parent-friendly workplaces</a>. Through various resources and benefits for working parents, you can make an impactful change in the lives of working parents. While there are steps that the government will need to take, there are small ways companies can help parents overcome rising childcare costs.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Embrace Flexibility</h3>



<p>Companies must be willing to accept that limited childcare options mean many working parents won&#8217;t have the availability to return to the office full-time. Implementing <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/employers/articles/blog-the-case-for-flexible-working-arrangements">flexible work arrangements</a> and schedules allow working parents to balance their job and caregiving responsibilities better. Many companies have already paved the way for flexibility during the pandemic. Keeping this work model will be more vital now than ever.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Provide Childcare Subsidies and Stipends</h3>



<p>Childcare benefits are highly sought after by working parents. Companies that can show prospective employees they are committed to supporting their parenthood journey are coming out on top. Companies should consider offering childcare subsidies and stipends as part of benefits packages. The addition of these benefits for working parents can help to reduce the financial burden that comes with caring for children.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Offer Employer-Sponsored Childcare</h3>



<p>Back-up and employer-sponsored childcare are imperative to solving the childcare cost crisis. This is the first line of defense that companies should be taking to prevent employee turnover. If working parents are provided access to high-quality childcare either on-site, in-office, or <a href="https://vivvi.com/in-home">in-home</a>, this could be the deciding factor to help them re-enter the workforce.&nbsp;</p>



<p>At Vivvi, we work with employers of all sizes to ensure their employees have access to affordable and high-quality childcare. Our team of educated childcare providers is committed to supporting you and your employees where they are. For more information about our employer-sponsored childcare solutions, visit our <a href="https://vivvi.com/employers">employer page</a> today.</p>


Childcare costs are soaring, harming working parents and employers alike. Here’s why companies need to be part of the solution. 

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<p>Employers and employees want to see significant changes company-wide. Particularly in those areas that will increase employee satisfaction and retention. If you are one of these companies, then you need to do one thing: provide attractive benefits for working parents.</p>



<p>Below, we discuss what employers need to do to change their company culture for working parents. And we also list the top five benefits for working parents that improve productivity and happiness levels.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Here&#8217;s a Tip for Employers: Give Employees What They Need Most</h2>



<p>Employees know what they want. They want robust benefits to allow them to be a great parent and a successful employee. They want the flexibility to work from home if their child is sick. They want employer-sponsored childcare options such as on-site and <a href="https://vivvi.com/in-home">in-home childcare</a>. But most of all, they are looking for employers that will genuinely support their journey as parents.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Companies unwilling to listen to what employees need most to do their jobs well won&#8217;t see retention levels improving soon. The pandemic made many working parents, especially mothers, realize that having a stable job isn&#8217;t enough. Employers need to provide benefits and resources for working parents to help them thrive and be successful.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As we know, women were hit hardest by the pandemic. These employees left the labor force in their millions to focus on caregiving responsibilities. The <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNS11300002">participation of women in the labor market</a> is estimated to be at a level that was last seen during the 1980s. Many of these employees have been hesitant to return. But not because they don&#8217;t have access to childcare but because they want to work for family-friendly companies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To stay competitive when hiring and improve talent retention, you need to prove that your company is inclusive of working parents.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Caregivers Need Company Support to Perform Well. Here&#8217;s Why</h2>



<p>Being a working parent requires you to juggle many responsibilities. Yet, it&#8217;s hard to do this without any support from family, friends, and employers. A recent <a href="https://www.ebri.org/docs/default-source/wbs/wws-2021/2021-workplace-wellness-short-report.pdf">Workplace Wellness Study</a> by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) found that six out of every ten employees struggle to balance work and caregiving. Poor work-life balances are one of the main reasons working parents struggle to keep up.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Without vital resources and benefits for working parents, these employees are more likely to:&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>Experience increased levels of stress and burnout.</li><li>Have less time to spend with their family</li><li>Deal with significant financial stress</li><li>Tap into vacation days to accommodate caregiving responsibilities</li><li>Have trouble concentrating when working</li><li>Struggle to perform well in work</li><li>Not have enough money to cover caregiving and childcare costs.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p>Without support, these employees are at a higher risk of experiencing burnout and decreased employee morale. After all, what incentives do these employees have if their workplace isn&#8217;t parent-inclusive? If you want working parents to perform well, you need to <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/employers/articles/blog-build-parent-inclusive-workplace">build a parent-friendly workplace</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Benefits for Working Parents That Improve Happiness and Productivity</h2>



<p>Our <a href="https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/7061949/Charter%20Vivvi%20State%20of%20Working%20Parents.pdf">State of Working Parents study</a> found many benefits to boost employee retention. These include flexible work arrangements, family leave policies, childcare support, and employee well-being resources.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Flexible Hours and Remote Work</h3>



<p>Flexibility will be key to improving employee satisfaction in the coming years. Working parents rank this benefit as one of the most sought-after priorities when searching for jobs. Employees need to have flexible schedules as a caregiver. They need to have options for working asynchronously or remotely.</p>



<p>Parenting-relating issues can impact an employee at any time. For example, they may have to look after a sick child or leave the office to attend a parent-teacher conference. Having flexible schedules and remote work options will be invaluable to these employees. Flexibility should be a core company value and should be woven into your company&#8217;s culture.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Parenting Culture</h3>



<p>Without a company culture that supports working parents, your company will never be capable of satisfying these employees. Working parents want to feel seen and heard.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A parent-inclusive company should have members of senior leadership that are visible parents. They should offer employee resource groups (ERGs) that provide support and mentoring opportunities. They should value mothers returning from maternity leave by giving transition support. These companies should acknowledge and praise every aspect of caregiving.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Robust Family Leave Policies &amp; Benefits</h3>



<p>Benefits for working parents will never be complete without robust family leave policies. Working parents should be given the time they need to care for their children and to welcome a new member of their family. This leave policy should be compensated fairly and robust for both mothers and fathers.</p>



<p>Many companies also ensure that family leave policies include same-sex families and bonding leave for non-primary parents. Additionally, a company&#8217;s family-friendly benefits should include health benefits for the whole family.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Provide Childcare Services</h3>



<p>A lack of accessible childcare is a problem that many working parents face daily. Employer-sponsored childcare solutions can resolve this issue. Many family-friendly companies provide their employees with childcare stipends or access to high-quality childcare services. Benefits like these tell working parents that they are valued at the company.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Support Working Parents&#8217; Well-being</h3>



<p>Parental burnout is a real issue that many employers are facing this year. If you wish to see these employees thrive, you need to <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/how-to-support-working-parents-emotional-well-being-in-the-workforce">support working parents&#8217; emotional well-being</a> by giving them tangible well-being benefits and resources. The easiest way to do this is by fostering a company culture that puts mental health first.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Wellness programs, ERGs, mental health days, and frequent manager check-ins are some of the resources that can be beneficial for working parents.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Help Your Employees Thrive With Employer-Sponsored Childcare</h2>



<p>While there are many benefits for working parents that will be vital for employers to implement in the coming years, childcare support is key. Many working parents will struggle to achieve a work-life balance with access to affordable childcare.&nbsp;</p>



<p>At Vivvi, we help employers support their employees exactly where they are in their parenting journey. We partner with companies of all sizes to make access to full-time, high-quality childcare a reality for working parents. Available on-site, in-office, or in-home, our experienced childcare providers work with your business and employees to provide a solution that benefits everyone.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For more information about our employer-sponsored childcare solutions, visit our <a href="https://vivvi.com/employers">employer page</a> today. Our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. <a href="https://vivvi.com/contact">Contact us</a> today.&nbsp;</p>


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