Parents forgetting kiddie games: Study

One in five parents say they have forgotten how to play with their children, with a third admitting that taking part in games and activities with their family is boring, according to research.

One in five parents say they have forgotten how to play with their children, with a third admitting that taking part in games and activities with their family is boring, according to research.

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But while more than half the children questioned for the report by Professor Tanya Byron said they want more quality time with their parents, one in 10 said they know that their parents feel family playtimes are dull and a waste of time.

The State of Play, Back to Basics report interviewed 2,000 parents and 2,000 children aged five to 15 about their play habits. It concludes that play is in danger of becoming a “lost art” for British families, with 21% of parents admitting they no longer remember how to play and struggle to engage their children in creative and imaginative activities that will help their development.

The report identified a lack of communication between the generations around the types of games and activities they should play together as a key contributor to the problems faced at family playtime.

“There are four key ingredients to a successful playtime between parents and children: education, inspiration, integration and communication,” said Byron, a psychologist and child therapist.

“Parents need to take a step back and think back to how their own childhood games used these four pillars and how they can implement them now,” added Byron.