The ESRI study found that children being looked after by relatives or siblings read less for pleasure. Photograph: Alamy/PASome children who are looked after by their relatives, rather than attending afterschool clubs, have lower reading and vocabulary scores, according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). However, the report noted that any differences found were small and the type of afterschool care received is much less of an influence than family or school factors. The study draws on two cohorts of the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study, covering children born a decade apart – in 1998 and 2008. Over the decade observed, the cost of afterschool care for parents has increased at a rate higher than inflation, particularly for those using childminders and afterschool clubs.

Source: The Irish Times November 20, 2025 23:09 UTC