Survey: many parents want childcare not to be free; fear waiting lists | Domestic

This is evident from a TV survey One today and platform Parents of Now among almost 4,000 parents who have at least one child in day care or after-school care (BSO). The coalition agreement of the now fallen cabinet stated that childcare would become virtually free in 2025, but that has already been postponed to 2027.

Of the 3,786 parents interviewed, 63 percent say they would like to see childcare become (almost) free. Remarkably, 29 percent of parents would rather continue paying for it. Most parents in that group think the plan is impracticable. Some people also think it is not fair if, through taxes, non-parents also pay for childcare. However, the most frequently cited reason for not making childcare free is the fear that even more parents will register their children, causing waiting lists to grow and the staff shortage to worsen.

It is not surprising that a large majority of parents prefer to see childcare free: a quarter of all parents say they have difficulty paying the bill for day care or out-of-school care (BSO).

The survey also shows that 95 percent of parents (with children between 0 and 4 years old in day care) are positive about the quality of care, even though they are regularly confronted with a shortage of staff. However, 16 percent of parents are (sometimes) concerned about the safety of their young child in daycare. Research by this newspaper showed earlier already this year that the supervisory GGDs are also doing the same.

For a small proportion of parents (13 percent), the quality and availability of childcare even influences their desire to have children. They doubt whether they want another child or postpone having a child.