Grandparents Prove Their Worth in Half-Term Childcare

Thank you to all grandparents who took part in our recent survey! Looking at the results, families also owe you for your generosity…

The latest insights

• Nearly three-quarters of grandparents will be looking after their grandchildren this half-term
• Over half take their grandchildren away, but many holidays are uninsured
• Some spend up to £1,000 or more on their grandkids
• Less than one in twenty will be reimbursed

71% of grandparents will be called in for childcare duties over half term, with more than 57% taking their grandkids away – the majority of these (65%) on a staycation.

But as many as a third of Grandparents do not buy travel insurance despite the protection, it affords. The main reasons given for not purchasing travel insurance are not believing it is needed for a UK trip and cost.

Do You Need Travel Insurance for UK Holidays?

Chris Rolland, AllClear CEO, says not having cover for UK trips could be an oversight: “Travel insurance covers the cost of having to cancel travel and accommodation, and this can be extremely worthwhile even within the UK. Our comparison website for specialist cover can also provide a range of cover and budget options geared towards older travellers and those with pre-existing medical conditions.”

How Grandparents Are Spending Their Time and Money

The amount of time grandparents devote to childcare varies, with half of all those surveyed stating between one and three days, but over one in ten (12%) looking after grandchildren for five days or the entire week.

While a good proportion (55%) are sticking to a budget of less than £100, 21% are spending between £101 and £250, 7% between £251 and £1,000 and 1% admit to spending over £1,000 on half-term holiday fun. And grandparents are not just taking their grandchildren away once annually; nearly one in three of those who take their grandchildren on holiday do so more than once a year.

Most surprising is that only 3% will always be reimbursed by their children, with 83% of grandparents never seeing a penny, and a total of 14% sometimes receiving all or partial funds back.

With the vast majority of those surveyed (92%) having more than one grandchild and over a third (34%) with five or more grandchildren.

Chris, CEO of AllClear Travel Group, comments on the results:

“Grandparents are providing an invaluable resource for parents – in fact, it is estimated that grandparents providing childcare save working parents approximately £6.8 billion annually. Undoubtedly, more often than not, this is fantastic for both children and grandparents, but it certainly means they are deserving of our gratitude!”

Are you planning to travel with your grandchildren?

If you’re planning a trip with your grandchildren, AllClear’s Family Travel Insurance can keep you all safe on your travels. Explore the benefits below:

Benefits of AllClear Cover

Author notes

Written by Lydia Crispin, MA Content Creator at AllClear
Edited by Letitia Smith, M.Sc. Content Manager at AllClear