Free Childcare

204 replies

viviswicked · 10/02/2023 16:18

Mulling over a comment on another thread regarding WFH and thought I would see how forthcoming people would be on an anonymous forum...

Those who are working from home has this been the opportunity to now have 'free childcare' no wraparound, no childminder etc needed as you are now always in the home.

Full disclosure this does not directly affect me due to children being older, I work hybrid and it's entirely up to me when and if I go into the office. My direct team do not have young children but I am part of a large organisation, many of the staff do have children and are not using childcare.

OP posts:

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 12/02/2023 13:21

SpongeBob2022 · 12/02/2023 11:52

I always wonder about the holidays in this situation. Even if children are old enough to entertain themselves for a couple of hours, I think if they're younger than secondary age they shouldn't be at home while parents are working for full days.

We use holiday clubs during the holiday. DD is 8 so can easily and happily keep herself busy between home time and us finishing work but not for a full day.

MeridaBrave · 12/02/2023 17:43

I no longer have childcare since Covid but that’s partly as DS2 finished primary school. My DSs are in year 8 and 12. So even if I do go to the office DS1 will be home at roughly same time as DS2. And DS2 can entertain himself during half term although I would not go to the office and leave him all day. I think with hybrid working can manage without childcare when youngest is around year 5 ie can entertaining themselves after school for a hour or so - even if you do have to get them (we live v near local primary and could walk home for years 5 and 6.)

Forgooodnesssakenow · 13/02/2023 04:53

MaryShelley1818 · 12/02/2023 08:55

I have a 5yr old and a 2yr old.
DH wfh 3 days (does 6am-2.30 so he can collect DS from school) and office 2 days. I wfh 1-2 days and out 2-3 days (4 days total at work).

Impossible to wfh with the 2yr old (although obviously we had to with our oldest at the same age during lockdown but he's a very different temperament).
Regardless of wfh or in office/out she's either with grandparents or in nursery 8-6.
2 days a week DS does an art club or tea club. But if I am wfh one of those days I'll cancel tea club and collect him, he gets changed himself and will happily curl up on the sofa and watch a movie or play with his toys for a couple of hrs. Tends to only be a couple of times a month though.

The different temperament thing is HUGE! My eldest we WFH with as a 2 yr old and it was impossible, very active, short attention span, no interest in TV, underlying health condition. It was murder.

Youngest at 18 months if she's ill my husband can WFH with her after collecting from nursery, calpol, snacks, dolls and accessories and a Disney movie and she'll potter about the living room for the entirety of moana no problem at all.

Lilybo7 · 17/02/2023 19:30

I work from home 3 days a week and DD is in after school clubs every day. (Age 7).
Pick her up after I finish work at 5.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9