British Days Out Blighted By Bickering
| Published: 31st July 2007 09:33 |
English Heritage launches summer campaign for family fun without rows
Forget the bad weather - families are dreading the summer holidays because of bickering, according to new research from English Heritage. A survey of more than 1,000 parents showed that over 60% of them rate a family row as one of the top spoilers of a family day trip.
"If the rain's not going to stop, then the arguing must," said Emily Burns, English Heritage's Head of Events. "Our research shows that hundreds of thousands of families are having their days out blighted by arguments, many of which can be avoided. Our campaign - Days Out Worth Talking About aims to help families overcome this holiday hurdle by offering a summer of stress-free fun for parents and kids alike."
British families take almost a billion days out each year - with the majority happening in July and August . Last year, day trips accounted for over half of the UK tourism market . Yet almost a quarter of those surveyed by English Heritage said that less than half of their summer days out were remembered in a positive light by the family.
Carrie Longton, co-founder of Mumsnet.com, Britain's leading parenting website, commented: "It's all a question of managing everyone's expectations. With so little family time available, the summer holidays are eagerly anticipated and it's almost inevitable that emotions run high and arguments can happen. According to Mumsnet members the key is forward planning and management of expectations.
"For starters focus heavily on places that will entertain the children - happy and entertained kids make for happy parents. Find out exactly what will be happening at the places you plan to visit and what activities can be expected. Try and make sure there's always something for the children to look forward to, especially if you want to try and do some of the more cultural stuff that some children might tire of, even if it's just tea and cake!"
In addition to the bickering, more than half of those surveyed also said difficult journeys spoil a day out. For women a bad journey was rated the third worst thing that can happen on a day out - interestingly it was placed in fifth position by men, behind a lack of amenities and children getting bored.
When asked what factors make a good day out, value for money rated very highly for over 60% of parents. In line with Mumsnet's comments, ensuring that the whole family would be entertained with activities for both children and parents was also a concern. Emily Burns added: "These results demonstrate that the best days out bring families together rather than being overly child or parent focused.
"Days out take a lot of hard work and planning for parents. We understand that, and have planned our summer calendar to ensure that whatever English Heritage site you visit, there is something fun and different going on. Our Days Out Worth Talking About events, taking place at many sites across the country on every day in August, offer hands on activities, excitement and discovery for the whole family - and are affordable too. So there's no time for arguments!"
English Heritage and Mumsnet offer a few tips for parents planning a day out this summer holiday:
- Keep it interesting - Boredom is a major cause of family arguments, so make sure your day out has an interesting theme. It gives something to talk about on the way home, distracting from bickering - and you might even learn something, too!
- Something for everyone - If a child (or an adult) feels left out on a day out, it can lead to arguments. Choose a day out with plenty of activities aimed at a range of ages to keep everyone active and involved.
- Be informed - More than 10% of parents say not having enough information about their destination can spoil a day out. English Heritage's website carries details of its properties as well as events so visitors can read up before visiting.
To find out about English Heritage events happening across the country, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/events.
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