Why doesn’t the country support having children?

[NameChangeAsICouldBeOverReacting]

Just seen an article on The Guardian about the 15 free hours for childcare for under 2’s and how the whole system is a mess.

I’m just starting to lose hope that this country doesn’t support working families anymore?

AIBU and need to think more positively, or have we screwed up massively by not supporting families?

The Guardian article which I read.

I claim the tax free childcare and the funded 30 hours. I feel supported financially.

Because they're another convenient scapegoat.

Agree.

They support them great, the long maternity leave, free childcare hours, the child benefit, the tax credits system, try going to America !

western states are struggling with low birth rates as someone in my mid 20s having affordable good quality housing and better wages would be a good place to start!

What's given us enough!

What more do you want? And who do you want to have pay for it?

Exactly this!

Because our useless Government think everyone receiving state help is a burden. They don't think out of the box at other ramifications. The main fallout with not supporting families is a reduced future generation that are economically productive in addition to the system not encouraging some parents to work when their children are young.

I say this as a Mum with children nearer 30. I paid childcare fees but at a time they weren't eye watering like they are now. That was hard enough.

My childcare was v high 18 years or so ago and had no 30 hour free childcare, think it was 12 or 15 hours at 3 so you are lucky

Just because somewhere else does things terribly, doesn't mean us doing them badly is good.

That’s great @bluechicky , but the extortionate costs of nursery for the first 2 years is a killer. Our nursery fees are the highest in the world! We have an opportunity to fix this, but the government can’t even roll it out properly and they are leaving nurseries and parents in the lurch.

So because another western country is shattered then us we should be grateful.

We have the highest childcare costs in Europe( article below). Ironically the goverment does understand that parents ( mostly mothers) not working to facilitate having kids is bad for the economy but as usual royally fuck up doing anything about it

https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/03/06/childcare-puzzle-which-countries-in-europe-have-the-highest-and-lowest-childcare-costs

@Mamabear2424 tax credits don't exist anymore. When I had a partner we were both in MW jobs and didn't qualify, now I am a single mum I don't qualify. They're really only for very part time lone parents or those with high childcare costs.

The whole system should be scrapped and parents given a voucher to be spent on childcare/early education from 3 years with tax free childcare for under 3’s. It just isn’t working and is hugely expensive.

This is very much a crab mentality.. let’s compare our country to a place that’s just abolished a woman’s right to abortions etc.

Why don’t we compare ourselves to Germany and their approach to childcare instead?

Childcare is essential to the economy and nation, but it's hugely undervalued like all traditional women's work is undervalued. Well trained, well paid childcare workers at an affordable cost through state subsidy would pay dividends further down the line.

Labour's sure start centres were a really good way of addressing things, the Tories cancelled them all out of spite.

It's partly a demographic vicious cycle - we have an ageing population, that costs more of state wealth and puts more pressure on people of working age, they're less likely to have children - also these issues get less coverage in press and by politicians - you end up with a society that's pretty hostile to young families.

(whispers) Tories

I have to take issue with your comment they don’t support them ‘any more’.
Have we ever had any support from any party?
My children are adults now but I certainly didn’t get any free childcare under Labour. You either stayed at home, had support from family or paid childminder/ nursery fees.

It's true, all western states are grappling with ageing populations for different reasons.

I'd say it's much worse in the uk but our housing crisis is one of the worst

A friend in Germany sends their 5yo to full time delightful nursery with wraparound hours, only about 20 kids in the whole place. Cost to them - about £200 a month.

I felt VERY supported but ONLY once my children turned 3 and got the 30 hours funding for childcare!

I think the 30 hours needs to start after the 1 year maternity leave ends.

I had twins and went back to work as a teacher. I managed to find a term time only nursery but for the first two years until I got the 30 hours free, I earned £20 a week after childcare and petrol! And that was only because I dropped my hours to 2 days a week! If I'd worked a 3rd day, I would have paid tax on the amount I earned on the 3rd day, so the take home pay would have been less than the childcare bill. I would have then LOST £30 a week to work 3 days a week!

Yes, my husband earns twice what I do, but it is demoralising to go back to work knowing you are losing the family money!

The entire SYSTEM needs rethinking. Those working hard to contribute to society should be the ones to benefit.

It not done badly here, its very good

The conservative government !
They devastated sure start because it was a labour initiative that worked.
They are doing the same thing with the NHS

America gives a higher child tax credit (child benefit equivalent) and up to a much higher income than £60k. Childcare is also deductible and much cheaper! But UK wins hands down on maternity leave, plus giving birth is free and not $20,000 or more.

I don’t know why it’s the government or the tax payers job to support families. It’s families jobs to support themselves.

There is a huge amount more financial support now for nursery than there was 10 years ago. I was paying almost £60 a day then.

Having kids is a choice and should be made with informed decisions about costs etc , shouldn’t be made in the hope someone else will fit the bill!