Busy Brits with children 18 spend less than an hour a day with their families

(28/04/2008)

According to a new Radox survey, almost half (43%) of Brits with children 18 or under living at home are spending on average an hour or less with their families a day, blaming busy lives and technology for their lack of quality family time. Only 56% of brits with children 18 and under living at home has managed a family holiday this year, further reducing the time spent with the whole family.

Brits with children 18 and under living at home are busier than ever with over half (53%) putting their lack of time with the family down to work. For past generations it was common to have a stay-at-home mother who was there when the children got back from school. These days, families have two parents who are working and therefore both parents are coming home later.

This is closely followed in the blame stakes by an increase in technology in children’s bedrooms, with TV(17%) and computer games (35%) topping the list of things that stops the family spending more time together. Only one generation ago, there was only one television in each household that encouraged the family to watch TV all together. But as the nation has become more affluent, a TV per room culture has developed which encourages separation.

The research shows there is little difference between the time men and women are able to spend with the family with only 51% of men and 57% of women spending, on average, more than an hour a day with their family. This reflects the increasing number of women working away from home.

The findings also revealed some good news, as despite increasing pressures on time, family mealtime has remained central to family life. 98% of those surveyed share a meal with the family once a week or more, with over two fifths (41%) managing it everyday or more. With 90% of people with children 18 and under living at home looking forward to spending time with the family it really could be an indication that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Radox have teamed up with parenting expert Dr Pat Spungin to put together tips for making the most of family life:
1. Try to eat together as often as you can during the week. Everyone needs to eat so use eating together as an opportunity to catch up on the day. Sit face to face across a table and not side by side in front of the television.
2. Have a family evening when you all do something together, even if it’s just watching a programme you all enjoy. Sharing pleasurable experiences bonds a family.
3. If relationships between family members become strained, not talking will usually make it worse. If you don’t have chance to talk at home, go out of the house together or go for a meal together so you can talk face to face.
4. Share your hobbies or activities with other family members. If one member is interested in sport try to get other members interested too. The family that plays together stays together.
5. Celebrate family occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries together. Share family stories and memories to reinforce everyone’s sense of the importance of family traditions.

Dr Spungin said: “It is easier in today’s modern life to lose sight of spending time with your family. The key is to make time, whether that is at meal times or on Saturday mornings, it is important to share experiences that can bring families closer together and create happy memories.”

Related categories:  Kids and children   Parenting   Teenagers   Toddlers   Tweenagers 

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