Source: Telegraph >> Read full article and comment
Families are spending less than an hour together every day amid fears over a squeeze on household finances.
By Graeme Paton, Education Editor
Published: 7:31AM BST 25 May 2010
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. … Continue reading
