Nearly Seventy Percent of Working Parents Envy Their Nannies During the Summer
More Parents Seek More Care for Their Kids From June to August
Nearly Half (47%) of Parents Alter Work Schedules to Accommodate Childcare Needs
WALTHAM, Mass., May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The majority of working parents get envious of their children's nannies during the summer, according to a national survey commissioned by Care.com, the premier source for families seeking trustworthy childcare. A majority of parents (58 percent) reported feeling envious frequently, often or sometimes, while nearly 11 percent said they always felt envious.
"I am not at all surprised by the findings," said Wendy Sachs, editor in chief of Care.com. "When my nanny texts me that she's at the pool with my kids eating ice cream and I am at work, I've felt envious. You want your nanny to be enthusiastic about playing outdoors and going to the pool, but parents want to be there too. After all, it's summer."
Care.com, which includes profiles of hundreds of thousands of babysitters, nannies, and senior caregivers, learned from its members that the majority of parents (53%) require more childcare during the summer months than during the rest of the year. And parents expect more from their nannies and babysitters. In fact, sixty-six percent of parents have higher expectations of their summer caregivers, expecting them to arrange for more outdoor activities and be actively engaged in field trips and play.
"Parents want their nannies and babysitters to be outside, playing in the park, going to the zoo, and planning more," continued Sachs. "With school out, there are more hours to fill, and Care.com's survey found that parents want their caregivers to be more engaged in the day to day planning in summer activities. The expectations are greater."
Furthermore, parents revealed that more than half (52%) of them plan to use multiple care options – including educational and outdoor programs - to round out summer childcare. Even though a quarter (25%) of parents choose to hire a nanny or sitter exclusively for the summer, almost half (47%) of working parents alter their work schedules to accommodate their children's summer schedules.
"It's the summer struggle – parents cobbling together a smorgasbord of activities and camps for their kids that begin and start at various times and change frequently throughout the summer. For working parents, the summer schedule can be particularly challenging," concluded Sachs. " From finding a college student to creating a Co-op program with friends, Care.com has a variety of options and tips for parents so that as the weather gets warmer, parents don't need to sweat childcare."
The Care.com survey was conducted via an online survey at Care.com among 500 adult parents 18 years of age and older from April 4 – May 9, 2011.
About Care.com, Inc.
Founded in 2006, Care.com is the largest and fastest growing service used by families to find high-quality caregivers, providing a trusted place to easily connect, share caregiving experiences and get advice. The company addresses the unique lifecycle of care needs that each family goes through-child care, special needs care, tutoring and lessons, senior care, pet care, housekeeping and more. The service helps families find and select the best care available based on detailed profiles, background checks and references for hundreds of thousands of mom-reviewed and pre-screened providers who seek to share their services. Through its Care.com Employer Program, corporations can offer Care.com memberships as a benefit to employees. www.care.com.
www.care.com | Twitter: @CareDotCom | Facebook: Care.com Fan Page
SOURCE Care.com
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