Workers who are swamped by having the kids at home during coronavirus can officially stand aside from their jobs, the government has confirmed.
The job retention 'furlough' scheme will now be open to people who can't do their job from home due to a "caring need", including their own children.
It applies even if parents would have otherwise kept their jobs during the crisis.
That means parents swamped by childcare can ask to temporarily quit work and have 80% of their wage paid by the state, up to £2,500 a month, even if their job was viable during Covid-19.
Experts welcomed the move - branding it an escape hatch for parents who've been struggling to work while looking after children in a confined home.
But they said it should go further - and Universal Credit and child benefit must be raised further to help parents through the crisis.
The government updated its guidance to companies and workers on the furlough scheme on Saturday.
It now says: "Employees who are unable to work because they have caring responsibilities resulting from coronavirus (COVID-19) can be furloughed.
"For example, employees that need to look after children can be furloughed."
The government's statement doesn't mean all parents who are juggling kids and work can go on furlough.
And it doesn't mean all parents have to go on furloough either.
But officials said it would give struggling parents the option to ask their bosses for time off.
Any arrangement would have to be agreed between the company and the worker.
If a worker goes on furlough, they have to do no work at all. They cannot switch to being part-time.
If they want more than 80% of their salary, their company has to agree to do this voluntarily.
Clare McNeil, associate director of the IPPR think tank, said she was "delighted" at the change.
She said: "Caring for children should be recognised for what it is, a full-time occupation.
"This is a vital recognition from the government of the place that caring for others has in our society, alongside paid employment.
"This change could make a real difference to those who face difficulties in combining working with caring for children, including single parents, those with a child with special educational needs or a disability, and those with very young children or babies.
"Many people with additional caring responsibilities for adults as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, including for older relatives, will also benefit from this change."
Treasury officials stressed the move was a clarification of the guidance, not a change in policy.
IPPR called for further action include a further increase to Universal Credit, plus removing the two-child limit and benefit cap.
The six-in-one benefit has been raised by £20 a week (£1,040 a year) but IPPR said it should go up by a further £10.
The think tank also called for one-off emergency child benefit payments of £30 each, plus an extra £5 a week to help children through the crisis.
And the experts claimed private green spaces should be opened up to allow more people to socially distance while out for exercise.
