The Family and Parenting Institute is urging the Government not to losesight of the importance of affordable high-quality childcare. Itsreport, Families and the credit crunch, highlights how families whopreviously felt financially secure are now worried about how they willcope as recession hits.
In an online survey of 5,300 families, the FPI found that 35 per centsaid money worries caused them sleepless nights. Just under half wereworried about heating their home (47 per cent), followed by mortgage orrent payments (36 per cent) and food costs (31 per cent).
The report calls for a review of the childcare element of the workingtax credit and universal provision of free after-school clubs to helpparents meet childcare costs.
While some parents said tax credits were a lifeline, others felt trappedin the system and said they would be better off unemployed.
One parent was working 173 hours a month to pay back tax creditoverpayments. Another said, 'Childcare is a real struggle for me. I amgoing to have to consider going part-time because the Sure Start nurserymy children attend will be upping their prices at Christmas. I will endup paying out more than I earn.'
Half of the respondents said their own parents or in-laws helped outwith childcare sometimes.
Three-quarters said they would be cutting back on Christmas presents butagreed that TV advertising fuelled 'pester power'. The report urged theGovernment to address parents' fears about advertising to children inits review on the commercialisation of childhood.
Further information: 'Families and the credit crunch 2008' is atwww.familiesandparenting.org/item/document/1934/1.
