The total cost includes sports activities, clubs, toys, books, magazines, games consoles, tech devices, meals out, days out, TV subscriptions and films
Families are expected to spend over £3,000 on average to keep their kids entertained during the school holidays this year, a survey has found.
The study by American Express revealed that parents are likely to shell out around £3,045 per child for activities outside of term time in 2024. This means families with more than one child could end up spending even more.
The research comes as families gear up for the Easter holidays. The total cost includes sports activities, clubs, toys, books, magazines, games consoles, tech devices, meals out, days out, TV subscriptions and films. Nearly half (43%) of parents said they expect to spend more entertaining their children during the school holidays compared to term time, with only 7% expecting to spend less.
Most parents (59%) said that keeping their kids entertained outside the home is the biggest factor behind their holiday spending. Dave Edwards, vice president at American Express, said: “Keeping kids entertained over the school holidays might not always be easy but our data shows it is a focus of many parents’ spending, whether it’s a meal out with the family, a sports club, or a games console.”
The research was carried out by Opinium, who surveyed 2,000 people across the UK in March. Some parents may be able to get extra help with their childcare costs. More information is available at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. Families could also save money on excursions, such as by planning train journeys in advance and looking for free activities at museums.
