Are you getting the balance right between work and home? Many UK working mothers tell us that spending more time with their children is their top priority, yet work often crowds out the hours they want to protect. According to ONS data from 2024, around three quarters of mothers with dependent children in the UK are in employment. The good news is that UK employment law, childcare support and smarter daily habits can help you reclaim meaningful family time without sacrificing your business or career.

The business case for spending more time with your children

Time with your children is not a luxury or a distraction from your career. Research consistently links parental engagement with better outcomes for children’s wellbeing, confidence and school performance. For women in business, protecting family time can also protect the mental health and focus you need to lead well. The question is not whether time with your children matters, but how to create it within the realities of UK work and self-employment.

Reduce smartphone distractions to reclaim family time

Social media and messaging apps have become embedded in daily life, but they can quietly steal the hours you planned to spend with your children. Ofcom’s 2024 Online Nation report found that UK adults now spend close to four hours online each day, with smartphones accounting for much of that time. Checking notifications during meals, bedtime or family outings fragments your attention and sends a clear signal to children about what takes priority.

Tip: Set a firm boundary. Put your phone in another room when you come home from work and do not pick it up again until the children are in bed. Use built-in screen-time limits or focus modes to make the habit stick. The time you free up can go towards a bedtime story, a board game or simply talking about the day.

Use flexible working to spend more time with your children

Since April 2024, the Employment Rights (Flexible Working) Act 2023 has given employees in England, Scotland and Wales the right to request flexible working from day one of a new job. You can ask for changes to your hours, start and finish times, working pattern or place of work, and your employer must deal with the request in a reasonable manner and within two months. They can only refuse for one of eight specific business reasons. ACAS publishes free template request forms and guidance to help you prepare.

If you are self-employed or running your own business, you have more control over your diary than an employee, but that freedom can disappear if you do not protect it. Block out school runs, parents’ evenings and family meals in your calendar as non-negotiable appointments.

Tip: Before you request flexible working, prepare a short business case showing how the arrangement will maintain or improve your output. For detailed guidance, read our article on Flexible Working Rights UK 2026.

Use the childcare support you are entitled to

Childcare costs are one of the biggest barriers to working the hours you want. The UK government currently offers two main forms of support. Tax-Free Childcare, administered by HMRC, gives eligible working parents up to £2,000 per child per year towards childcare costs, or £4,000 if the child is disabled. For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2.

The 30 hours free childcare offer has also expanded. Working parents of three and four-year-olds in England can currently claim up to 30 hours of free childcare per week during term time, and the rollout is continuing for younger age groups. If you are self-employed, you can qualify provided you expect to earn at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage equivalent over the next three months and no more than £100,000 per year.

Tip: Check your eligibility on gov.uk and apply before the start of the next term. Our guides on Free Childcare Self Employed UK and Tax-Free Childcare for self-employed parents explain the details.

Plan holidays and time off strategically

Holidays allow concentrated quality time, but the cost of travel during school holidays can be significantly higher than during term time. In England, local councils can issue a £60 penalty notice per parent per child for unauthorised term-time absence, rising to £120 if not paid within 21 days. Repeated unauthorised absences can lead to prosecution. The rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check your local authority’s policy.

Rather than risking a fine, plan ahead. Book annual leave around inset days and half-term breaks, and remember that time together does not have to mean an expensive trip. A long weekend camping, a visit to a National Trust property or a local festival can create just as strong a memory as a fortnight abroad.

Build small shared routines

Children value predictable time with you more than grand gestures. A 20-minute walk after school, cooking together once a week or a Friday night film ritual can become the anchor points children remember.

If you work from home, create a clear boundary between work time and family time. Close the laptop at a set hour, change out of work clothes if it helps, and give your children your full attention for the first 30 minutes after you finish. For more ideas, see our article on How to Maintain Work-Life Balance Working From Home.

Practical action steps for working parents

• Check your phone’s screen-time report and set a daily limit that protects family hours.
• If you are employed, review your right to request flexible working under the Employment Rights (Flexible Working) Act 2023.
• Apply for Tax-Free Childcare and check whether you qualify for 30 hours free childcare.
• Plan your next family break around school holidays and inset days to avoid term-time fines.
• Choose one small routine, such as a shared breakfast or bedtime story, and commit to it for the next month.

Spending more time with your children is not about achieving a perfect balance every day. It is about making deliberate choices, using the rights and support available to UK working parents, and protecting the moments that matter most.