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🇧🇪 Belgium /Culture & Society

4 in 10 Parents Experience Childcare Stress, International Study Finds

From VRT NWS · (2h ago) Dutch Mixed tone

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A study reveals that 4 out of 10 parents of 5-year-olds experience childcare stress, often feeling they are on their own.
  • Parents utilize a mix of childcare options, including grandparents, daycare centers, friends, and babysitters, with just over half confident in their support network.
  • The article features personal accounts from mothers navigating the challenges of balancing work and childcare, highlighting the financial and emotional toll.

A recent international study involving 2,400 five-year-olds across 200 Flemish preschools has shed light on a significant issue facing parents: childcare stress. The findings indicate that a substantial proportion of parents, specifically 4 out of 10, often feel isolated in managing their children's care, leading to considerable stress. This sentiment is particularly acute for those who feel they lack sufficient support from family or friends, with two out of ten parents reporting inadequate help when needed.

I once brought my daughter to someone from padel whom I had only seen a few times; there was no other option.

— Ellen DewitEllen Dewit describes a difficult situation where she had to rely on an acquaintance for childcare when her regular daycare was closed.

The study also noted that while Flemish preschoolers demonstrate strong emotional recognition skills, they tend to score lower in language and math. However, the childcare stress reported by parents is a critical finding that warrants attention, as it impacts the well-being of both parents and children.

Personal testimonies from mothers like Ellen, Marjan, and Sylwia offer a glimpse into the daily struggles of juggling work and childcare. Ellen, a single mother by choice, shares her experience of working full-time while raising two young children. She describes the constant effort to balance professional responsibilities with parental duties, often working late into the night after her children are asleep. This situation creates a sense of guilt towards her employer and colleagues, despite her efforts to maintain flexibility.

But everyone knows that working from home with children is not easy. You are left with some kind of guilt towards your colleagues or your employer.

— Ellen DewitEllen Dewit explains the challenges of working from home while caring for children.

Ellen relies on a network of friends and babysitters, acknowledging the financial burden associated with paid childcare, which can add up to €60 per babysitting session. While her parents offer support, their own health limitations prevent them from being a constant resource, adding to the pressure, especially during school holidays when she cannot rely on a two-parent household's ability to share childcare duties. The article underscores the complex puzzle parents face in securing reliable and affordable childcare, a challenge that is amplified for single parents.

Besides the costs for going out in the evening, you should count an extra 60 euros for the babysitter.

— Ellen DewitEllen Dewit highlights the significant financial cost of hiring babysitters.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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