The average family get less than eight hours of quality time together each week, a study has revealed. Researchers found work, school and a jam-packed timetable of weekend and evening clubs mean parents and their children get just over an hour a day to catch-up and enjoy some time together.
And for seven in ten parents, even the quality time they do get is spent in silence in front of the TV because they are all too tired or busy reading or playing computer games to make conversation.
Grandparents also miss out on time with their children and grandchildren, with the average family visiting grandparents just six times a year.
Some mums and dads are so anxious about the lack of time their parents get to spend with their grandchildren that 65% have, or are considering, arranging a holiday with the whole extended family.
Almost two thirds even admitted the only real time they get to spend together is when they go on holiday away from the distractions at home.
A spokesman for Virgin Holidays and Universal Orlando Resort, which commissioned the study, said:
”Families are busier than ever with parents working, children at school and the evening and weekends taken up with a host of clubs, sports and play dates with friends.
”But this means that many families struggle with really getting to spend some time together and just enjoy each other’s company for a while.
”And grandparents fare even worse as they seem to be a long way down the list of priorities when it comes to squeezing in the visits during the busy weekends.
”Instead of getting to enjoy their grandchildren growing up, many have to make do with quick visits on special occasions or snatched moments in between weekend activities.
”Going away together means you can really make the most of each other’s company, without worrying about making sure the kids have done their homework, are on time for their sports club or that the chores have all been done.
”Bringing along the children’s grandparents means the whole family can get some much needed time together that many find impossible to fit in at home.
”And they shouldn’t worry about being jet-setting babysitters – it really is incredibly easy to have a holiday where everyone gets to do something they enjoy.
”From the point of view of the youngsters, while our research found 17% said their children were at an age when they didn’t want to spend time with their parents, we believe that a holiday is the perfect time to do this if they choose a location which can cater to everyone’s needs.”
The study of 2,000 parents found the average family will get just 36 minutes a day together during the working week as they juggle work, school routines, chores and evening clubs.
And it doesn’t get much better at the weekends with children attending different activities, meaning just two hours and twenty minutes a day – less than five hours over the 48 hour period – is enjoyed together as a complete family unit.
Working long hours was the biggest reason for the lack of time together, while another 36% blamed it on needing to use spare time in the evenings and at weekends to catch up on chores.
Children who would rather watch TV or play computers and a host of different hobbies and sports clubs to attend were also among the list of reasons.
56% of parents even admitted they have booked a holiday for no other reason than to be able to enjoy some real time with their family, without the everyday distractions at home.
Researchers also revealed that 75% of adults also struggle to spend any decent time with their extended family like parents and grandparents because they are so busy with the daily grind.
And in an average year, families will visit the grandparents just six times – once every two months.
Almost half even said they only really spend time with the grandparents on special occasions like birthdays and at Christmas.
56% also admitted that fitting in visits to the grandparents at weekends is low down in the list of priorities when it comes to juggling the family’s schedule.
A Virgin Holidays spokesman added:
”The pace of modern life can too often mean that multiple generations of families spending time together is the exception, rather than the rule.
”And when it does happen it’s often an ‘occasion’ requiring everyone to behave in a certain way.
”With the summer holidays looming though, we’d urge families to see it as a time to re-establish bonds and create some really precious memories.”
TOP TEN REASONS FOR TOO LITTLE QUALITY TIME
1. Myself or my partner work long hours
2. We spend our evenings/weekend keeping up with household chores
3. The children are at school when I’m not working
4. The children are often watching TV
5. Myself or my partner work anti-social hours
6. The children are often playing computer games
7. The children are at an age where they don’t really want to spend time with us
8. The children are often out with friends
9. The children spend their evenings studying
10. We spend a lot of time at various sports/after school clubs separately
