Families should not have to choose between paying rent and paying for childcare. 

Story by Hiruni W. – Mansfield, CT  

Do you remember the last time you sat crisscross applesauce on a classroom carpet that smelled faintly of crayons and glue? I remember my childcare classroom, sitting and listening intently to the quiet rhythm of picture book pages turning and the soothing voice of my daycare teacher bringing those playful lines to life.  

I started childcare when I was one, which allowed my parents to return to work. Five days a week I got the chance to explore the world via interactive play, music, counting, nature walks, and reading. Along with this, I was able to build relationships with teachers who made me feel safe, curious, and capable. These early experiences cultivated how I learned to listen, to speak, to share space with others, and ultimately feel confident in a classroom.   

My early childhood education changed my life before I even knew what change was. I entered kindergarten more confident, more curious, and more willing to ask questions. I had built the social skills, language skills, and resilience needed to confidently learn in school.  

This foundation is becoming increasingly more difficult to build for kids. For most single-parent households, childcare costs can consume over 75% of their income. Eligibility to early learning programs like mine is often limited due to long wait lists and limited funding, especially in underserved areas. These gaps follow kids into school and beyond.   

If we want to change outcomes, we must start where learning truly begins. Families should not have to choose between paying rent and paying for childcare. Teachers should not be underpaid for shaping the most critical years of brain development. Children should be able to enter kindergarten ready to thrive instead of trying to catch up.  

Later this year, I will cast my first vote alongside over 4 million young people turning 18 this election year. I will join other Gen-Z and Millennial Americans who are now estimated to make up roughly half of all eligible voters in 2026. We’re ready to elect leaders who show up for kids. This election season, we’re calling on every candidate and every legislator to commit to one principle:  

Put kids first—in policy, in priorities, and in budgets.  

Connecticut members of Congress, will you protect and prioritize funding for early childhood education, nutrition programs, and global child-focused assistance?   

Candidates, will you publicly commit to a kids-first agenda? How will you shape our shared future?  

Kids don’t have lobbyists, and they can’t vote. But they deserve leaders who show up for them.  

My generation will hold all policymakers accountable to ensure that children remain a national priority. We believe that children should never be an afterthought or a partisan issue. These are the future doctors, lawyers, legislators, and community leaders of our nation. If we want a brighter future, we must invest our time and money where it first takes root: on the carpet, in the circle, sitting crisscross applesauce.