Grandparents spend 11 DAYS looking after grandchildren over summer

Grandparents spend a total of 11 DAYS looking after their grandchildren during the summer holidays as cash-strapped parents take on extra hours at work, survey reveals

• 58 per cent will look after grandchildren between now and September
• One in four have moved house to help as parents work longer hours 

We all know there’s no one quite like Grandma.

So it will come as little surprise that it’s grandparents to the rescue this summer as research reveals they will typically spend an amazing 264 hours looking after their grandchildren during the holidays.

The study shows they will dedicate the equivalent of 11 full days to caring for young relatives.

Typically, they will look after two or three children each.

As many families grapple with the rise in the cost of living, an army of generous grandparents is saving their own offspring thousands of pounds a year in childcare costs. 

Nearly six in ten grandparents – 58 per cent – will look after their grandchildren between now and September, the research found (Stock image)

The average cost of sending a child under the age of two to nursery is £138.70 a week part-time, equating to £7,210 a year. And it’s £269.86 a week full-time – £14,030 a year – according to Moneyhelper, a government website.

During school holidays, the average price of childcare was £148 a week last year.

The research has been carried out by train ticketing company Railcard to examine how grandparents step up to help over the summer holidays.

Nearly six in ten grandparents – 58 per cent – will look after their grandchildren between now and September, the research found.

More than half, 55 per cent, say this strengthens their relationship with their own children.

A quarter, 24 per cent, will take grandchildren on day trips by taking the train and on average will travel 25 miles. Meanwhile, one in four grandparents have moved house to lend a hand as parents work longer hours, separate research has revealed.

Kind-hearted grandparents have scrambled to help, with 26 per cent even moving nearby over the past five years to lend a hand with their grandchildren (Stock Image)

The survey of 2,000 retirees found that up to 53 per cent of working parents have had to take on extra hours or additional work.

So kind-hearted grandparents have scrambled to help, with 26 per cent even moving nearby over the past five years to lend a hand with their grandchildren.

Commissioned by retirement home developer McCarthy Stone, the study found that 42 per cent of grandparents are helping regularly with the school run – on average five times a month. And 46 per cent are looking after their grandchildren overnight at least three times a month.

The research found 39 per cent take their grandchildren to the playground every week, 35 per cent are cooking evening meals and 28 per cent are doing the laundry. Some 28 per cent of grandparents are doing the bath and bedtime routine.

One in five (21 per cent) regularly do DIY jobs around their children’s homes and 28 per cent walk the family dog.

Sixteen per cent have bought their children’s weekly shop, while 12 per cent have helped them pay their bills.

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