Family life 'squeezed into 49 minutes a day' Families are spending less than an hour together every day amid fears over a squeeze on household finances
Average parents spend just 49 minutes with their children, figures show, as a lack of cash is identified as the biggest obstacle to a positive family life.
Research suggested that rising numbers of “pound sign parents” only valued activities that cost money – leaving children to themselves at other times.
Pressure to work in the recession has previously been blamed as a barrier to quality family time.
The conclusions come in a survey of 3,000 parents and 1,000 children conducted ahead of National Family Week.
The event – staged next week – has been organised by a series of organisations including the NSPCC, the National Federation of Women's Institutes and the National Literacy Trust to encourage families to spend more time together.
The latest study comes just days after a leading headmaster claimed that parents were fuelling a “must have” culture among children by lavishing them with the latest gadgets and electronic devices.
Graham Gorton, chairman of the Independent Schools Association, said many mothers and fathers believed they were “failing as parents” if they were unable to provide state-of-the-art computer games, televisions and toys for sons and daughters.
According to the latest study, almost one-in-10 families admit to spending no more than two hours together each week.
One-in-five parents and children said they spent between two and four hours in each others’ company.
Some 68 per cent of parents named money as the biggest barrier to spending more time with their family.
“Pound sign parents are blaming money for being the biggest obstacle to positive family life with 36 per cent citing it as having a negative impact on family time,” said the study.
“A third of all parents think quality family time costs money and an astonishing 68 per cent of parents see money as the biggest barrier to spending more time with their family.
“This is rubbing off on their kids with more than a quarter of eight- to 15-year-olds stating money as the most important thing to them, putting cash in front of their health, education, sport or music and, again, family pets luck right out.”
Speaking this month, Mr Gorton said: “Over recent decades we seem to have created a ‘must have’ culture amongst our young people.
“Many see that they may be perceived to be failing as parents if they do not ensure that their children have the latest gadgets and electronic devices along with their peers.
“Many parents also, I suspect, feel pressured to enrol their offspring into every conceivable club or after school activity that is available, including through the weekends.” ( telegraph.co.uk )
Average parents spend just 49 minutes with their children, figures show, as a lack of cash is identified as the biggest obstacle to a positive family life.
Research suggested that rising numbers of “pound sign parents” only valued activities that cost money – leaving children to themselves at other times.
Pressure to work in the recession has previously been blamed as a barrier to quality family time.
The conclusions come in a survey of 3,000 parents and 1,000 children conducted ahead of National Family Week.
The event – staged next week – has been organised by a series of organisations including the NSPCC, the National Federation of Women's Institutes and the National Literacy Trust to encourage families to spend more time together.
The latest study comes just days after a leading headmaster claimed that parents were fuelling a “must have” culture among children by lavishing them with the latest gadgets and electronic devices.
Graham Gorton, chairman of the Independent Schools Association, said many mothers and fathers believed they were “failing as parents” if they were unable to provide state-of-the-art computer games, televisions and toys for sons and daughters.
According to the latest study, almost one-in-10 families admit to spending no more than two hours together each week.
One-in-five parents and children said they spent between two and four hours in each others’ company.
Some 68 per cent of parents named money as the biggest barrier to spending more time with their family.
“Pound sign parents are blaming money for being the biggest obstacle to positive family life with 36 per cent citing it as having a negative impact on family time,” said the study.
“A third of all parents think quality family time costs money and an astonishing 68 per cent of parents see money as the biggest barrier to spending more time with their family.
“This is rubbing off on their kids with more than a quarter of eight- to 15-year-olds stating money as the most important thing to them, putting cash in front of their health, education, sport or music and, again, family pets luck right out.”
Speaking this month, Mr Gorton said: “Over recent decades we seem to have created a ‘must have’ culture amongst our young people.
“Many see that they may be perceived to be failing as parents if they do not ensure that their children have the latest gadgets and electronic devices along with their peers.
“Many parents also, I suspect, feel pressured to enrol their offspring into every conceivable club or after school activity that is available, including through the weekends.” ( telegraph.co.uk )
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