Expert reveals how Welsh parents can juggle work and childcare this summer

Over half of working parents in Wales rely on TV and YouTube to keep their kids entertained during school holidays

·       Parents balancing careers and childcare during school summer holidays find themselves resorting to screentime (58 per cent), sweets (24 per cent) and even bribes of new toys (14 per cent) to keep their children occupied

·       Juggling childcare and career priorities during the school holidays is a burden (60 per cent) – with a third of those feeling guilty about not spending enough time with their children

·       Almost half (44 per cent) rely on grandparents to look after their children, while 16 per cent need help from other school mums and dads

Working parents in the Wales are left reaching for the remote or a laptop in order to keep their kids occupied during the school summer holidays.

The new poll by PGL Adventures showed that over half (58 per cent) say YouTube and TV is a staple in their arsenal for keeping kids entertained during the break.

Others are forced to turn to giving sweets (24 per cent), or even bribing them with new toys (14 per cent), in a bid to keep children amused.

Among primary and secondary school children nationwide, it’s 10 and 11-year-olds who are most likely to be given screentime to keep them busy (71 per cent and 75 per cent respectively).

The poll paints a picture of just how difficult the struggle to juggle careers and childcare is during the extended break, with almost two thirds (60 per cent) admitting it’s a burden on their lives.

Among them, feeling guilt about not being able to spend more time with their children (70 per cent) and experiencing burn-out (43 per cent) trying to do it all are common.

Grandparents will often play a vital role as almost half (44 per cent) say they rely on family members to look after their child, while almost one fifth (16 per cent) require the support of a close community network, sending their children to parents of their schoolfriends.

Almost half (44 per cent) say they become stressed over the summer break period and a quarter (26 per cent) will even develop feelings of anxiety.

And it’s not just their personal lives that suffer, as over one quarter (28 per cent) also say the juggle is having an impact on their ability to do their job.

One half (50 per cent) among them say they can’t fully concentrate and over one quarter (29 per cent) believe they miss out on opportunities to progress.

Researchers also asked what the most difficult situation respondents had faced in juggling work and parenthood during the summer break:

·       “When both my wife and me have to work from home. You just have to rely on tv and iPad”

·       “Having to tell work I can’t go on a site visit last minute because I have no childcare and then feelings scared I’m going to lose my job”

·       “Trying to get the time off. My daughter has 14 weeks holiday a year… I have about average annual leave and find it difficult to juggle”

·       “A real decline in the quality of my work, and feeling tired whilst working with my child”

·       “It’s the not being able to spend more time with them because I have work, so I can’t spend time with them, so we don’t get to build a stronger relationship”

Charlotte Dobbins, Fun Leader at PGL Adventures shares her shares her top tips for making the most of the holidays while minimising the impact on your workload.

Check out local libraries and cafes

Lots of libraries and cafes run activities for children throughout the summer so if you are someone who can benefit from working from home why not look up local venues or your local council and see what’s on offer. Enjoy a coffee and some quiet time to crack on with your work while your children explore their imagination through new books or shared activities with others.

Set up a group with other parents

More than one in 10 (12%) parents rely on the support of a close community network, sending their children to parents of schoolfriends. Speak to others in the same position as you and see whether there’s the opportunity to set up a rota to help each other out. Not only will your children enjoy spending time with their friends, but you can relax knowing they’re in good hands.

Plan, plan, plan!

It sounds obvious but if you’re able to work from home try and plan activities for the day and weave this around when you need some additional quiet time for calls or meetings. Outdoor play (58%), arts and crafts (46%) and taking the kids out for short bursts (46%) are some of the top ways Brits try to keep children entertained throughout the day. With that in mind, why not set up a mini-Olympics in the garden or a treasure hunt with cryptic clues? What’s more, plan energetic activities for the weekend so your little ones can run and play to their heart’s content. By Monday, they’ll be happy for a quieter day!

Don’t try and fill every minute of every day

Help encourage your children’s imagination and independence by letting them create their own games and play in their rooms or the garden. This will also help build persistence, problem-solving skills, confidence and teach patience and resilience.

Book an adventure camp

Sometimes it’s just not possible to work from home as frequently, if at all, during the holidays and this is where adventure camps can be a great option. For example, PGL Adventures offer holidays for children aged 8-16 years, allowing them to gain independence from home, experience the ultimate sleepover, make friends and enjoy a choice of over 40 fun activities at one of the many centres across the UK. In addition, you can pay with Childcare Vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare at all of the English centres making it a real holiday saviour. It’s a win for both parties, children and parents can make the most a break without worry and with holidays available for two-night stays from £199 you can enjoy the experience with ease.