School holidays, yay or nay?

As the school holidays approach, parents eagerly await the opportunity to spend quality time with their children. However, for many, the excitement is often accompanied by a sense of anxiety and stress, especially when it comes to childcare arrangements. Recent research has shed light on the challenges parents face during the holidays, revealing the need for innovative childcare solutions that empower and support families. Let's explore some key insights and discover how parents can conquer school holiday anxiety with the help of forward-thinking services like CocoRio.

A staggering 50% of parents feel adequately supported by their employers when it comes to childcare. This lack of support is especially felt by working mothers, leading to increased stress levels. In fact, 2/3 of mothers living with a partner arrange all of the childcare for their children during the school holidays, with 86% responsible for arranging more than half of childcare overall.

So what can we do to ease the burden? Well, for one, employers have a role to play. It’s encouraging to see that more companies are looking for ways to reduce the gender pay gap and helping mothers strike a balance between work and family responsibilities. At Cocorio, we offer the best flexible childcare option to empower working mums, reducing the "motherhood penalty" and contributing to positive recognition within HR teams.

But as an individual, how can you enjoy a stress free holiday period and ensure the kids are kept entertained? Here are some top tips:

• While not available to everyone, seeking help from relatives and friends is generally a hassle-free option

• Most areas have free or very cheap community activities you can drop in to: your local library, children centres, community centres

• Book your kids into a summer camp

• Find a holiday club near you

• Take your kids to all the amazing places London has to offer: museums, parks, fairs, the zoo

• Organise some playdates

But if like the many parents we’ve spoken to, you’re simply too busy working to take your children to the above suggestions, let alone do the research and organise your life around them, then our solution is simple. Get a CocoRio creative nanny to take care of it all. Not only can you book as and when you need, recurring or ad hoc, our creative nannies can find all the perfect things to do so your children enjoy the outdoors. Whether the park or museums, our creative nannies make it a magical outing with their creative lens. But fear not, they’re also excellent at turning your own garden or neighbourhood playground into a fairground! Go on, book your kids a summer outing with CocoRio!