THE summer holidays are here and for the children the fun starts now...but not for the majority of parents who are struggling to find childcare for six weeks!

I know... as a parent you are responsible for childcare during the holidays, but when it costs £100 per week for activities for most families it's tough.

Children need to be stimulated and active during the half term holidays – and whilst parents are at work, sadly it has to be paid for.

Local sports clubs provide activities between 10am and 3pm so at least those who don’t have the grandparents helping out - thay have somewhere to take the children.

Last week I was speaking to a friend who chooses to (and is lucky enough to) look after her little ones rather than work and she said this time of the year is great for her...she said that childcare is the main reason that she was not in paid employment.

Her words were; “It seems crazy to go out to work in a low-paid part-time job, to pay someone else to look after my kids. So I do it... for nothing - and get told I am not 'working!'”

What do you think? Are you coping during the holidays and should parents be allowed to take extra time off during the summer holidays?