Parents who rely on grandparents for childcare have been advised to limit this to just 30 minutes, according to recent reports. Many parents feel “trapped” as they struggle with the ongoing cost of living crisis. Surveys by property website Zoopla among 2,000 UK parents of children under 13 revealed that 57% depend on grandparents for childcare. Additionally, the study found that 50% of grandparents live within five miles of their grandchildren, and 68% are within a 30-minute trip. 💼👴👵
Over half, or 52%, of parents who rely on grandparental childcare have reported feeling “stuck” or “trapped” due to their location. Amid the nationwide cost of living crisis, 36% of these parents admit they couldn’t manage without their parents’ support. Shockingly, almost half of the parents feeling trapped dream of moving to a larger property but struggle due to high local house prices, according to the survey by Zoopla. 🏡👩👧👦
Zoopla’s consumer expert, Daniel Copley, recommends that parents have “open and honest conversations with their parents” to discuss the level of support and the distance they are willing to manage for their grandchildren. He also mentioned that grandparents might be open to relocating to a more affordable area, especially if they are considering downsizing or freeing up equity for retirement. Zoopla’s survey, conducted by Mortar Research in June 2021, included insights from over 2,000 UK parents with children under 13. 💬👴👵🏡