Grandparents shell out to keep children happy in school holidays

Money spent on food, outings to theme parks, zoos, sports clubs and go-carting but there are cheaper ways to keep grandchildren entertained throughout the summer

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More than half of grandparents with grandchildren aged under 18 will step in to look after them this summerspending more than £21 per day on each child on average, according to a survey.

Grandparents typically estimated they will spend £21.05 per day per grandchild this summer, the research, commissioned by MyVoucherCodes, found.

This was up from £15.80 per day when the website commissioned a similar survey last year.

Many grandparents cover the cost of meals and snacks for their grandchildren, with an average weekly spend of £14, according to SunLife.

One in eight of grandparents said they will be providing care every day during the school holidays and 33 per cent will help out two to three times a week.

The rising cost of entertaining grandchildren is causing concern with more than 25 per cent of grandparents saying they worry about the cost.