Lack of public kindergartens, mobilizing grandparents to look after grandchildren "with pay"

Accordingly, the authorities will pay monthly support to grandparents who take care of their grandchildren. This move is made in the context that the number of public kindergartens in Croatia still does not meet the actual demand.

Both clear about financial benefits and family ties

In Croatia, the town of Samobor is currently the first locality to pilot the "grandparents as nannies" model, with support of up to 360 euros (10.5 million VND) per month for each elderly person taking care of young children.

This idea not only helps the elderly earn extra income but also strengthens the emotional bond within the family. Authorities believe that the "grandparents as nannies" model also has a positive impact on the quality of life of the elderly. Babysitting will help the elderly reduce feelings of boredom, loneliness and isolation in the context of Croatia's aging population.

The "grandparents as nannies" model being implemented in Samobor has attracted the attention of international media (Illustration: Leoai).

Samobor Mayor Petra Skrobot said: "We see many benefits from this model. The pensions of many elderly people are currently quite low. The average pension is currently only about 550 euros/month.

Meanwhile, some parents have difficulty finding a reliable place to send their children. We want parents to have more choices in childcare for preschool-age children."

According to official estimates, thousands of children in Croatia do not have a place in public kindergartens each year. They are then forced to attend private schools with high tuition fees, or their parents have to hire hourly babysitters. Many parents have also taken the initiative to ask their children's grandparents to help look after their grandchildren.

The "grandparents as nannies" model implemented in Samobor helps the elderly receive additional economic support from the authorities. This model is currently applied to children aged 4 and under. Grandparents only need to register with the authorities to take care of their grandchildren to enjoy the benefits.

Ms. Dubravka Koletic (60 years old), an elderly person participating in the "grandparents as nannies" program, highly appreciates this idea: "I have extra monthly income and can spend more time with my grandchildren, thanks to that, I have more joy in my old age."

Mrs. Dubravka Koletic takes her grandson to the park to play (Photo: France24).

Ms. Dubravka's daughter - Ms. Danijela Koletic (41 years old) - currently has 3 young children and works in business. Ms. Danijela also thinks the "grandparents as nannies" model is a good idea.

Even though her youngest son, Viktor, did not get a place in a public kindergarten, she was still satisfied: "It's great to be able to entrust my child to someone I trust."

Samobor has a population of about 37,000, with two public kindergartens and several small private facilities serving a total of more than 1,300 children. Last year, authorities recorded that more than 100 children did not have a place in public schools, and their families did not have enough financial means to send their children to private facilities.

The model has many meanings in the context of population decline.

In many countries, grandparents taking care of their grandchildren is still voluntary, and the elderly do not receive financial support from the authorities (Illustration: Leoai).

Ms. Josipa Milakovic - principal of Grigor Vitez Kindergarten - assessed the "grandparents as nannies" model as an "extended arm" of parents, helping to take care of young children in a family environment.

Samobor Mayor Petra Skrobot said that many leaders from many regions in Croatia have contacted her to learn how to implement this model.

Croatia has a population of around 3.8 million. The country is also facing a low birth rate and an aging population. In this context, the town of Samobor is a rare exception in terms of population growth, especially with an increase in young families moving here to find a peaceful living environment but still close to the capital.

Last year, the number of primary school classes in Samobor increased sharply, while in many other places the number of students decreased. This made Samobor authorities more concerned about how to support parents with young children.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/thieu-truong-mau-giao-cong-lap-huy-dong-ong-ba-trong-chau-co-luong-20250521151855521.htm