Mayor Eric Adams called for quality, affordable universal child care to be included in the upcoming state budget during a visit Monday morning to a child care center in Queens.

He called it “critical” and “essential.”

"Child care is not a child sitting home all day watching TV,” said Adams. “Child care is bringing them into an environment where they are able to expand and develop themselves, their full personhood, song, dance, language, see different faces, different cultures."

With a major investment in the state budget, Adams is hoping for providers to be paid more, programs to be enhanced and more seats to be created. Adams’ staff says New York City has a half-million children under 5 years old.

David C. Banks, chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, said it's essential for kids to have a bright start to a bold future and that this investment is for the future of New York.

The state budget must be approved by April 1.