Major retailer is offering customers 45 minutes of free childcare – plus a £1 meal too! View the full list of locations
A major British retailer is offering shoppers 45 minutes of free childcare, so parents can use the break to do their shopping in peace.
Although it is tempting to organize extra family days with children who are not in school, this is not always an option for larger families due to the costs.
However, one popular retail brand is ready to help, thanks to the presence of crèches in many of its stores.
Furniture giant IKEA runs a supervised playground called Småland, which means 'little countries' in Swedish.
A major UK retailer is offering 45 minutes of free childcare to shoppers, which parents can take advantage of during this break (File image)
Each child dropped off by IKEA customers will be given a seat belt so staff can identify who has checked in at the branch.
The workers care for children between the ages of three and ten, giving parents the opportunity to do their shopping undisturbed.
According to the retailer, there can sometimes be a wait at the daycare center when it is particularly busy, but parents will be informed of this when registering.
Activities include crafts, reading or playing with interactive toys, including a giant ball pool.
Once parents drop their child off, they will receive a buzzer that will notify them five minutes before the 45 minutes are up, giving you plenty of time to pick them up.
Children with additional needs are also welcome at Småland, as the dedicated staff – all of whom are trained to a minimum of NVQ level 3 in childcare – provide one-to-one care for children with SEN on the first visit.
There is also an expert on the playground who is trained in pediatric first aid in the play area in the event of any incidents.
There is also a range of affordable dishes available, such as a child's portion of tomato pasta with a drink for just 95p, or you can upgrade to a combination meal, consisting of a hot dish, jelly, a drink and a piece of fruit, for £1.50 .
It comes after another major retailer launched an initiative to offer free hot breakfasts and drinks in its 205 cafes.
Earlier this month, Quaker teamed up with Asda for the second year in a row to offer customers of any age a free bowl of Quaker Original or Golden Syrup, along with a cup of tea and coffee. or hot chocolate.