How has Covid-19 affected how we parent?

7 in 10 parents plan to change their working life in order to spend more time with children post-lockdown 

• Three quarters say lockdown made them ‘change or reassess’ relationship with their children 
• 6 in 10 say it made them realise they were not spending enough time with their children 
• The average working parent would give up 12% of their salary for an extra hour a day with kids
• Parents spent almost two hours more a day with children during lockdown 
• We’re expanding our offering to welcome families as well as groups of children at 10 UK centres 

Three quarters of parents (77%) say the extra time they spent with their children during lockdown made them ‘change or reassess’ their relationship with them. The figure rises to 82% for dads compared to 73% for mums. This is according to new research we commissioned as we ramp up our awareness around welcoming families to our UK centres.

In total, 60% of parents said lockdown made them realise they were not spending enough time with their children. As such, 7 in 10 working parents (71%) say they have or will make changes to their work life – such as working more flexibly, working from home or reducing working hours – in order to spend more time with them in future. In fact, the average working parent in the UK said they would be prepared to give up 12% of their salary in order to spend an extra hour of quality time with their children each day. 

When asked how lockdown changed their relationship with their children, nearly half of parents (44%) say it made them realise how much their children were benefiting from the additional time together, whilst 40% say they realised how much they enjoyed spending time with their children. In addition, 38% said it helped them bond and become closer, whilst 29% said it made them realise they could help them tackle issues and problems. 

The research reveals just how much additional time parents were spending with their children over lockdown compared to normal. Before the restrictions, the average parent spent 3.16 hours with their children per day, although 3 in 10 (31%) admitted to spending an hour a day or less with them. However, during lockdown, the average parent was spending 4.98 hours per day with their children – nearly two hours more. Just 1 in 10 (11%) were spending an hour or less a day with their children. Working parents also said that pre-lockdown, they would on average get home from work after their children had already gone to bed twice a week. 

The research also looked at modern ‘parenting typologies’ to find out how most parents view their style of parenting. Nearly a third of parents (31%) described themselves as ‘elephant parents’ who prioritise their children’s emotional security over academic or sporting achievement. Meanwhile 25% identified as ‘Peter Pan parents’ – a newly established typology of parents who want to get involved with their children’s activities, reliving their own childhood. The study found that 15% of parents consider themselves to be ‘attachment parents’, 12% ‘helicopter parents’ and 8% as ‘pushy parents/tiger parents’. 

Some parents did identify drawbacks of spending so much time at home with their children. Seventeen per cent said lockdown made them want to spend less time with their children. And over half (52%) said that lockdown has led to their children becoming too reliant on the familiarity and security of the family home, and they would benefit from time away, pushing their boundaries, increasing their independence and building confidence. 

We have ten purpose-built family activity centres situated across the UK, each of which offers their own individual surroundings and unique holiday experience. Our family holidays are packed with lots of enriching and confidence-building activities and adventures, as well as evening entertainment, family-friendly accommodation, enhanced home-cooked menus and a bar – and all the food and activities are included in the price. Activities available include abseiling, archery, canoeing, climbing, fencing, ropes courses, raft building, rifle shooting, a huge zip wire and much more.

Television personality and Dad of two Jeff Brazier, who is working with us on the campaign, and helping to shape our new families offering, commented: “Being a parent makes you grow up quickly – but it also gives you the opportunity to relive some of the best parts of your own childhood, by getting involved with your own kids and having great adventures with them. I’ve spent more time than ever with my kids over the past year and the extra time together has helped us bond and made me really understand the pressures they are going through in life as teenagers, and I hope for many parents getting closer to their kids has been one benefit of lockdown.”

Anthony Jones, CEO PGL commented: “As we are currently expanding our offering to welcome families, as well as groups of children, to our centres across the UK, we wanted to take a deep dive into how lockdown has fundamentally changed the relationship between children and parents. It appears that one of the real silver linings of lockdown has been bringing parents and children closer together than ever before, potentially changing their relationship forever. But there is no doubt that all the time at home could have made some children a little less adventurous as they got more used to the security blanket of the family home. Our centres are the perfect place for parents to continue to spend quality time with their children, whilst also helping their kids to push their boundaries and build confidence now lockdown has ended.” 

Research conducted by Opinium between 7-11 June amongst 1,085 parents of children aged 5-16. 

UK PGL Adventure Centres 

• Bawsdey Manor (Woodbridge, Suffolk)
• Barton Hill (Torquay) 
• Boreatton Park (Shrewsbury)
• Caythorpe Court (Grantham)
• Dalguise (Dunkeld, Scotland)
• Liddington (Swindon)
• Little Canada (Isle of Wight) 
• Marchants Hill (Hindhead) 
• Osmington Bay (Weymouth)
• Windmill Hill (Hailsham) 

Media Enquiries: 

For further information and media enquiries please contact the PGL press team via pgl@newsfeedpr.co.uk or call one of the team: 

• Chris Bull - 07760 273 160
• Katie Murray - 07595 251 580
• Rebecca Riley - 07840 855 200