Anxiety, hassle, frustration and apprehension are just some of the thoughts that go through the minds of British parents when they think ahead to the school summer holidays, new research has revealed.
While the majority agreed that the annual six week break is a time for happiness and excitement, 90 per cent admitted this is accompanied by a plethora of negative feelings, with some even panicking at the prospect. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, it is money worries that leave parents feeling most stressed.
Almost 47 per cent of those surveyed by Fellowes UK said ensuring they have enough money to entertain their family is what they find most stressful about the school summer holidays.
Some 46 per cent admitted just finding things for their children to do can leave them feeling strained. Juggling work with childcare (33 per cent) and getting time off work (20 per cent) are also top concerns for modern parents.
In fact, it is parents with full-time jobs who feel the least excitement about the summer break, suggesting they experience the extra pressure of making arrangements for their children while holding down a full-time position.
The top ten things British parents find most stressful about the school summer holidays are:
Having the money to entertain the family46.7%
Keeping a child/children entertained46.1%
Juggling work with childcare32.9%
Keeping the house clean and tidy25.5%
Being able to get time of work when wanted/needed20.4%
Disruption to daily routine17.9%
Maintaining a good work/life balance15.5%
Finding time for yourself12.9%
Managing hay fever/allergies7.4%
Travelling with the family6.8%
Daryll Brunt, UK & Ireland Sales and Marketing Director at Fellowes, said: “Trying to balance work with family life can leave people feeling stressed and anxious, especially during the holidays.
“The reality is that most people simply can’t take a lot of time off work to look after their children over the holidays. This can have an impact on health and wellbeing as parents become overburdened and stressed, which isn’t productive for home or working environments. Little things, like the flexibility to work from home when required, can have a big impact on the wellbeing of the nation’s parents.”
Planning further ahead for the school holidays could help to alleviate some of these pressures, as over a quarter of respondents said they never make arrangements in advance.
Parents should also ensure they take a break and enjoy some downtime in the evenings, as 53 per cent claimed they do not get as much ‘me time’ when their children are off school.
However, this may be difficult as many parents revealed they have extra jobs to do around the home during the school holidays, which take up more time and are therefore likely to put them under increased levels of pressure.
Additional tasks parents face are:
Finding activities for children to do 85.8%
Additional cleaning and de-cluttering 52.6%
Planning more meals and cooking 52%
Transporting children from A to B more frequently 36.3%
Arranging additional/a change in childcare 32.6%
Around 31 per cent of parents said it takes them an extra 30 minutes to an hour to complete general household tasks during the summer holidays, while 30 per cent revealed it takes them up to two hours longer.
Of the parents who have to take their work home with them, almost 40 per cent sit on the sofa with their laptop, while 13 per cent work from a laptop in bed. Just 23 per cent sit at a desk when they are working from home, while 11.5 per cent have a properly-equipped home office.
Daryll Brunt concludes: “Life is hectic enough for many parents who have to work full-time to support their families. Employers should strive to offer effective working from home solutions to support staff members during the summer break. Juggling work and children in the holidays needn’t be daunting with careful planning.”