Should grandparents charge for childcare?

With more of us stepping in to assist our kids and grandkids, we ask...

With the cost of living crisis raging on, we’re all looking for ways to cut down on spending. From swapping to cheaper grocery shops and forgoing takeaways and meals out, to keeping a watchful eye on our heating and water bills. But it seems our adult kids may have it even worse than us, if they have children of their own. With the cost of childcare rising, and the average full-time care for under-twos costing £263 per week, it’s not something that can simply be removed from a budget. According to a new report, 23% of parents have been forced to quit work or study to avoid childcare costs.

AWKWARD SUBJECT

So it’s no surprise that 40% of grandparents over 50 have provided regular childcare for their grandchildren. But should they be paid for their services? Providing food and entertainment can be costly but many feel awkward about charging their kids
- often feeling like it’s their familial duty. We speak to two mums with different views on granny daycare…

‘It’s a privilege’

Judy Broadbent, 65, is a writer living in Yorkshire

When my youngest daughter Liz gave birth to her first child, a boy named Cameron, I became a grandma for the first time.

I was 49, I worked for myself and had plenty of spare time. Liz asked me to help out, which I willingly did. She lived across the road from me and it made perfect sense to me to offer childcare so that she could continue working.

Cameron was an absolute ‘model’ baby and we bonded from the start. Liz trusted me so much with him and I felt honoured. I felt lucky to be spending such precious time with my grandchild. When my granddaughter Ebony soon followed, I was happy to continue helping out when needed. Liz returned to her work as a care assistant working nights in a nearby nursing home. Whenever she asked if I would stay overnight with the children and look after them, I happily agreed. I was still juggling my own job too, but somehow, between us, we managed. My youngest son was only too happy to help out too. He had ambitions to teach children and whenever the chance arose, he’d be teaching Cameron and Ebony how to write, spell and read. I have such lovely memories from those times.

But in all those years I provided childcare, I never expected a single penny from my daughter. It didn’t occur to me to request payment and I never would have taken anything, even if she’d offered. I used my own money to pa