If you stay at home to look after your little ones, all the more reason to take a break. That is the principle of the halte-garderie system in France, where once registered, you can drop off your pre-school children for a few hours or several half days per week while you go and shop, rest, go to the hairdresser, get your legs waxed… well nobody is controlling. Financially supported by the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF), the price is modest: calculated according to your income, you pay between 0.76 euros and 2.29 euros per hour, tax deductible. For this your little love is looked after by professional childcarers in good surroundings, and gets to play with other children as well as doing lots of creative activities. The only drawback is that with all such good things, places are much sought after and there is a waiting list.
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