[snarf21]

It isn't a bad idea but really you are just talking about the cost of daycare services. Some mothers and fathers stay home because they want time with their kids at a very young age. They want to be able to go to every show and tell. Most people who are able to have a stay at home parent is because the other partner makes enough so the don't need to work. You suggestion just makes work possible for a subset that don't work because sending four kids to daycare costs more than they could make. There are other issues for school age kids where they need care close to their school district (for busing) not necessarily where they work.