‘We have bills to pay’: Waverly day care provider fears enrollment dip may shut her down

WAVERLY, Neb. (KLKN) — Child care providers are noticing a drop in enrollment.

Amy Reuter has been providing home day care for more than 20 years, and she said enrollment rates are constantly fluctuating.

But in the past few years, she has seen a downward trend in enrollment.

“Day care is expensive, and it’s a hard thing for families to do for whatever their income is,” Reuter said.

SEE ALSO: $150,000 in grants give extra boost to 24 Lincoln child care centers

She’s doing all she can to let the Waverly community know that she has openings.

Ever since the pandemic, she said it’s been a struggle to bring in more kids.

Reuter is operating at just above 50% capacity.

She is licensed to have 12 kids, but she only has seven coming to her home full-time right now.

“Usually, I’m at 12 kids or 10 kids most of the time,” she said. “So right now, I’m low. And hopefully I can get more families in.”

SEE ALSO: ‘A financial hole’: York day care closing, blaming minimum wage hikes and other costs

If she can’t fill her empty spots before long, she’s worried she’ll have to give up the job she’s done for decades.

“We can’t stay open with low enrollment,” Reuter said. “We have bills to pay just like every other family. And if I’m at low enrollment, it’s hard to keep the things that the kids need to learn and the things they need for daily activities and daily care.”

Reuter has heard of other day cares in Nebraska closing recently because of low numbers.

Lincoln Littles said numbers are taking a dip for child care centers in Lincoln as well, particularly for preschool-age kids.

Reuter is spreading the word on social media and by word of mouth, hoping it will help bring in more clients.

SEE ALSO: After starting in home, Lincoln day care opens its own location