Three-Month Summer Vacation in Italy
Working Parents Face Increasing Childcare Burden with Few Options for Supervision
In Italy, an increasing number of parents are seeking psychiatric help due to the stress caused by their children's long summer vacation.
According to the British media outlet The Telegraph on June 9 (local time), Italian public schools are entering a long summer break of about three months, heightening parents' concerns over childcare.
The report states that school vacations in Italy are among the longest in Europe. However, as more grandparents continue working into their 70s, there are fewer people to look after children, which increases the childcare burden on dual-income parents. The number of stressed parents is also on the rise; according to a survey by the Association of Psychologists in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, the number of parents seeking psychiatric counseling increases by up to 40% between June and August each year.
Psychologist Mara Compagnoni explained that it is common for parents to experience anxiety, irritability, and feelings of helplessness during their children's vacation. She said, "While the holidays can be an opportunity for families to spend time together, the illusion of a perfect vacation and the reality of not being able to meet the demands of children, work, and spouse all at once lead to stress and frustration."
The physical, financial, and psychological hardships of childcare are repeated every summer. The media reported, "Among working mothers, 63% responded that they are exhausted from balancing work and family during the vacation period."
Francesca Fiore, who runs the parenting blog 'Mamma di Merda,' said, "Summer is a nightmare for parents," adding, "Parents start opening spreadsheets months in advance to plan for their children's care."
Although the official summer vacation lasts 13 to 14 weeks, it can actually be even longer. Fiore added, "The reopening of schools in September is often chaotic, with staff shortages leading to only partial operations. True normalization is only possible at the end of September."
Amid rising living costs due to inflation, the expenses for babysitters and summer camps have also become a concern for parents. According to a survey by the consumer rights group Altroconsumo and the polling agency Censis, 72% of households are experiencing financial difficulties due to the cost of summer childcare.
Working couples in Italy endure the vacation period by alternating three to four weeks of leave to take care of their children. Some parents resort to having their children spend most of their time in front of screens while they work from home.
In this situation, there are ongoing calls to shorten the length of the summer vacation. Last year, Italian mothers launched a campaign to reduce the school vacation period, gathering more than 70,000 signatures. In response, the Italian daily La Repubblica commented, "Do not believe the perfect summer photos you see on Instagram," and added, "Summer is a nightmare for countless Italian families."
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