The report, by the think-tank Demos, suggests the vouchers be rebrandedas "family life vouchers" that can be spent on a range of activitiesother than childcare. The authors argue this would empower parents tomake decisions that are genuinely in their children's interests.
"Currently, childcare vouchers enable parents to outsource the mostsignificant of family activities," the report states. "We recommend thatthe purpose of these vouchers should be expanded, and repositioned asfamily life vouchers. Parents would be free to decide what elements offamily activity they wanted to outsource.
"Some parents may choose to spend them on cleaning, to give them morequality time with their children. Others may use the vouchers to coverthe costs of transport from their child's school if they are unable toget there on time to pick them up.
"Others still may decide that the best thing for their family is to putthe vouchers towards an after-school activity or Saturday club."
But childcare campaigners were sceptical about the proposal. Tom Crabbe,head of projects at the Daycare Trust, said: "The affordability ofchildcare remains a major concern for the families we speak to. Wesupport anything that will help parents to make choices about familylife but my concern is that expanding childcare vouchers might dilutesome of the focus around the affordability of childcare."
The report also argues that fathers should be encouraged to play a moreactive role and childcare and development through "bring your dad toschool" days and other initiatives.
According to a poll by NOP for the report, 44 per cent of mothers saidthey would take the day off work if their child was unexpectedly ill andcouldn't go to school, but only three per cent said their husband ormale partner would take the day off work in these circumstances.
And it says that parents are increasingly turning to popular televisionshows and the internet for advice on bringing up children. The report'sauthors argue that policy makers should learn from television programmeslike WifeSwap and Supernanny to shape new policies that supportfamilies.
- www.demos.org.uk.
