Childcare and family activities to ‘cost parents an extra £200’ during holidays

Parents across the UK are expecting to face additional costs of nearly £200 during the upcoming six-week school summer holidays, as they navigate the challenges of childcare and family activities.

A survey of 1,000 parents with school-aged children found 58 percent of parents have to manage increased childcare expenses while juggling work and taking care of their kids.

However, it’s not just the financial burden of childcare that worries parents. The study revealed 64 percent of parents are concerned about how they will balance the heightened costs of having their children at home for the summer.

Additionally, 71 percent of respondents are preparing themselves to purchase more snacks than usual to keep their children fed on the go during day trips and outings.

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In an effort to support families during this financially demanding period, Warburtons and Morrisons have conducted this research to launch the “Ask for Ellen” initiative. This scheme offers free toasted crumpets for everyone visiting Morrisons Cafes throughout the summer.

Jonathan Warburton, Chairman of Warburtons, acknowledged the reality that many families face during the summer holidays. He said: “While the summer holidays offer a chance for families to enjoy time together, we know that the reality can be very different for many families.

“As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on household budgets we wanted to offer a little to support to families through the holidays.

“Being able to help families across the country is as important to us today as it was to Ellen Warburtons back in 1876.”

The study also found 58 percent of parents are reevaluating their summer holiday plans due to rising costs. Moreover, parents anticipate having to make an extra trip to the supermarket each week to ensure their snack cupboards are fully stocked for their children during the school break.

Furthermore, grandparents are expected to play a crucial role in alleviating some of the added pressure during the summer holidays, with 44 percent of respondents relying on them for support.

The survey highlighted 38 percent of parents find entertaining their children the most challenging aspect of the summer holidays, while 37 percent worry about striking a balance between work and family time.

Additionally, 26 percent of parents anticipate frequently hearing their children complain of boredom during the six-week break.

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On average, parents can expect to hear the first complaints of boredom within the first week of the school holidays.

Chris Strong, from Morrison’s said: “Supporting customers during the school holidays is incredibly important to us as we know that many families worry about catering for additional meals that are usually covered during the school term time.”

The “Ask for Ellen” initiative, named after the founder of the bakery brand, Ellen Warburton, will be available all day in any of Morrisons’ 398 UK cafes from 17th July to 13th August, while stocks last.

Adults and children can simply “Ask for Ellen” to receive a complimentary portion of two crumpets with butter and jam, no questions asked.

This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, which speed up Express.co.uk’s editorial research. A news editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected].

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