Before October 2019, the nurseries offered by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) were a benefit to which only women had access; today, about 50,288 minors who come to these facilities (approximately 27.8% of the total) come from working fathers affiliated to the IMSS.
This comes after the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (Conapred) motivated the laws to be amended to include men as well.
These nurseries not only represent a space of care and safety, but also a place of education with a quality program, a balanced diet along with exercises according to the age of girls and boys, therapeutic support and health promotion, as well as interaction with other children. In addition, for mothers and fathers they mean a support that gives them the opportunity to work and pay the maintenance expenses of their children.
From October 2019 to July 2022, the states that have registered the most parents with children in nurseries are Guanajuato, Chihuahua, Jalisco, Sonora and Tamaulipas, and those that have not yet done so can do so through this link. All children between 43 days of birth and four years, with fathers and mothers insured by the IMSS in the Compulsory Regime, have the right to go to any of these care units, which are also expanding to provide more people with this service.
Víctor Solís has worked for 14 years in the federal government and for a long time sought to have the provision of daycare service. “Traditionally it was always for moms. I found out through other parents, through the dissemination in news and Internet pages, I looked for information about it and the nursery closest to my workplace, I saw on social networks good comments from the parents and I decided to register my son, “he said.
He also said that his schedule starts at 9:00 in the morning and sometimes ends between 7:00 or 9:00 at night, so he takes advantage of his meal schedule to go for his son, take him home, and then return to work.
“Being close to my workplace is important for me, in any contingency or eventuality I can move for my son and know that he is well, be aware and closer to him, and obviously that he is cared for by trained people, with experience in the care of minors, and who also teach them to be more independent and the issue of sphincter control, which is a very difficult process for children,” he emphasized.
If there is marriage, only one parent may have this benefit; hence the relevance of these stays being for both men and women. Just as there are single mothers, there are also single fathers. At present, the country seeks equity, and that also implies that men are involved in the education and upbringing of children, that their participation in their daily lives is naturalized.
Organizations and experts stress that the importance of these nurseries is vital for both children and for moms and dads, and consequently for a better society.
