YP Comment: Priceless role of grandparents
GIVEN that more than half of local councils predict a shortage of nursery places later this year when pre-school children will be entitled to 30 hours '˜free' childcare, it's fortuitous that so many families can count on the goodwill of grandparents to fill the void. Their role is not insignificant '“ a new report reveals that they save families a combined total of £16bn a year in childcare costs and grandparents spend, on average, eight hours a week looking after their grandchildren.
Their role is not insignificant – a new report reveals that they save families a combined total of £16bn a year in childcare costs and grandparents spend, on average, eight hours a week looking after their grandchildren.
Frankly the contribution that grandparents make is worth far more than £16bn – it is priceless and yet it also poses challenging issues for society about work-life balance. For, as more people start working beyond their retirement age out of financial necessity, who then is going to look after youngsters and provide the stability, and familiarity, that is so important to children during their formative years? It’s an age-old question that isn’t going away in the near future.