The way families live and work has changed, and childcare has had to keep pace. Hybrid working, shifting schedules and a greater mix of time at home and in the office mean that the old model — one minder, one set of hours, five days a week — no longer fits every household. More parents are now looking for childcare that flexes around their working week rather than the other way round.
We bring you this article in association with öogo, who offer responsive childcare options for parents who need flexible, ad-hoc support to fit around more flexible, hybrid working patterns.
There will always be families who need traditional full-time childminding, and that’s not going away. But alongside it, a real appetite has grown for something more adaptable — help that can be booked for an hour, an afternoon, or just the odd week when the usual plan falls through.
What Types of Childcare Do Parents Want?
When we asked parents how their childcare needs have changed, the answers covered a real range of situations. Here’s what came up again and again.
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Online Minder
“I need to have a go-to option for my child to be independently engaged and occupied while I am on my weekly Zoom call with my manager. I don’t need him minded full time, I just need a short window where I know he will be happy and not interrupt me. I can fit my work in before he is up and after he goes to bed.”
Part-Time Minder At Home
“I will not go back to the office full-time, so my childminding needs have changed. I will, however, need someone to come in and take care of my baby for 3 to 4 hours a day.”
“I need my children collected from school, fed and set up to do their homework. I will continue to work at home, so I only need someone for approx 2 hours daily.”
“I work shifts and my partner and I try to fit our schedule so he can be around when I am not. There are some weeks this is not possible and it would be good to have a solution for those times so we are not always reliant on grandparents.”
Babysitting Service
“I would love a reliable babysitter so that I could get out in the evening for a walk or with my friends. I am a single parent so it would be great to get some much needed time to myself.”
“I need somebody for school holidays who can take the kids to camps, or on day trips when I am working. I don’t need to put them into full-time childcare anymore, but they are also too young to entertain themselves full-time when not in school.”
Full Time Child Minding
“I have my 3rd child on the way and really need a full-time minder to come to my home and look after the younger two during the day and collect and take care of my eldest after school. I am off on Fridays and I work from home some days too, and I’d love the children minded in my home so I can see them during the day if I have some time.”
What Flexible Childcare Options Are Available?
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Most parents are familiar with kids (and the odd pet) turning up on video calls, and children joining online classes with real enthusiasm. But what about the hours in between — when they’re not learning online or in school, and still need to be looked after?
As the way we work keeps changing, childcare needs change with it. Parents are often left scrambling for a solution without knowing where to look — and that’s the gap öogo is built to fill.
öogo offers everything from engaging online activities to keep children occupied while parents work alongside them, to babysitters who can cover an evening out, a work trip, or just a few hours so a parent can get to an appointment, a class, or some well-earned time to themselves.
öogo connects families who need childcare with services and activities in a thoughtful, considered way. Their secure booking platform is built to flex with family life, covering everything from full-time, in-home childcare to live, engaging online courses and activities for children of different ages.
A team of expert Minder Finders source childcare options carefully and curate content for live sessions, so children stay engaged while parents get on with their day.
For some parents, a full return to the office suits perfectly. For others, hybrid or flexible working has opened up a better balance than they had before. Either way, it comes down to employers and employees having honest conversations to find the childcare and working pattern that actually fits.
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Find Your Right Fit
Get in touch with the team at öogo if you’re interested in:
- Becoming a minder — don’t be shy!
- Exploring a childminding solution for your employees as an employer
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is flexible childcare, and how is it different from a traditional minder?
Flexible childcare covers ad-hoc or part-time support — a few hours a day, occasional evenings, or short windows around work calls — rather than a fixed full-time arrangement. It’s designed for parents whose working pattern doesn’t fit a standard 8am to 6pm schedule.
Is flexible childcare only useful for parents working from home?
No. It suits any parent whose hours vary — shift workers, parents job-sharing childcare with a partner, or anyone who occasionally needs cover outside their usual routine, such as school holidays or evenings out.
Can I book childcare for just a few hours rather than a full day?
Yes — that’s the point of more flexible services like öogo. You can book short windows of support, whether that’s an hour of online engagement for your child, a few hours of in-home minding, or an evening babysitter.
What if my childcare needs change from week to week?
Flexible platforms are built for exactly this. Rather than committing to one fixed arrangement, you can book what you need, when you need it, and adjust as your working week changes.
Related Articles
If flexible childcare is on your mind, you might also find these useful:
- Balancing Work and Family Life as a Parent
- Creative Ways to Keep Kids Busy While You Work From Home
- Managing the School Holidays When You’re Working
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