Latest news with #ElizabethKilbey
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Screen time warning to parents as quarter of UK families eat dinner in silence
New research has prompted warnings for parents to consider spending more quality time with their children over dinner after a study found that conversations have been swapped for mobiles during meals Parents have been warned to take action against screen time consumption as the great British dinner chat is dying, experts have revealed. New research has found that families across the country have forgotten the art of catching up at the dinner table. The research also found that a quarter of the nation eats meals in silence - with two in five children calling for phones to be put away during meals. According to a survey of 2,000 families in the UK, 39% of kids say they ask their parents to remove technology from the table. The study highlighted that more than three-quarters (77%) of families use their phones during supper. More than half of kids (51%) are actively on their devices while eating. Kids have become so used to relying on their devices that they prefer picking them up or watching TV, with two-thirds (66%) saying its better than talking to their parents. The research was carried out with children, aged between 8-16 years old, was commissioned by The Week Junior. The survey was timed alongside 10th anniversay of the UK's only weekly news magazine for children. It showed that mobile phones were one of the reasons behind the drop-off of family conversations at dinner time. But technology isn't the only reason behind the decline in conversation, as busy schedules has also taken time away from family dinner. As a result of the research, The Week Junior has launched a series of conversation chat starters to help families reconnect and engage once more in intergenerational dinner table dialogue. Even without the impact of technology, the idea of the traditional family dinner seems to be fading - with just one in three (32%) of families sitting down to eat together daily. Many parents are also left feeling ill-equipped to navigate conversations with their children as a heavy news agenda adds another obstacle to the conversation. 82% of children say they want the dinner table to be somewhere they can talk to their parents about what is happening in the world, with the same proportion of parents admitting they don't have these discussions regularly any more. Seven in ten (71%) parents admit they struggle to know what to say in the face of today's challenges, with only a third (33%0 feeling fully confident in explaining current affairs in a way that is accessible, accurate and reassuring. Child psychologist Dr Elizabeth Kilbey stressed the importance of finding the time for discussion over dinner. She explained that it boosts the child's development but also helps them become more open minded. The majority of participants (93%) said they would be happy to introduce dinner table rules again if it helps with their child's development. With 94% of parents saying they learn something from their children during these open discussions. And children are eager to engage too - four in five (82%) say they want dinner to be a special time set aside exclusively for conversation with their parents. And a vast majority (885) enjoy debating a wide range of topics, from global affairs to playgound drama, and 83% of children prefer having these conversations face-to-face with their parents at the table, rather than over the phone. Dr Kilbey said: 'In a world that's more connected yet increasingly disconnected, dinner time provides a powerful platform for fostering personal understanding and essential conversations. The Week Junior reconises that these moments of shared dialogue are crucial for building strong family bonds and enhancing critical thinking in children. "It's these simple, daily interactions that can make a significant impact, not just in strengthening family ties but in cultivating a generation equipped to lead empathetically and thoughtfully. Let's pave the way for a future where every voice is heard, starting at home." Vanessa Harriss, Editor of The Week Junior, said: "As our research shows, quality time spent together over the dinner table is vital for families. Whether it's chatting about everyday things or discussing what's going on in the news, these family conversations boost children's wellbeing and development. "That's why we're encouraging everyone to talk a little more as families. As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, The Week Junior is also getting even bigger. With an extra four pages every week, we'll be including conversation starters for our young readers - because taking time to talk makes everyone feel happier."
South Wales Argus
03-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Screen time killing family dinner chat, new research reveals
Although the dinner table should be a space for conversation and connection, a quarter (25%) of families admit to not talking at all during dinner. The research reveals that mobile phones and hectic schedules are sidelining family conversations at dinner time, while a heavy news agenda makes it even harder for parents to tackle topical discussions with their children around the table. Screens are increasingly creeping into mealtimes, with over three-quarters (77%) of families admitting to having phones at the table. (Image: The Week Junior) Over half of children (51%) are actively on their devices while eating, and two-thirds (66%) say they'd actually prefer watching TV or using a screen over having a conversation with a parent. However, it's not just children who are drawn to their screens. Two in five (39%) children say they have to ask their parents to put down their phones at the table. The study, which surveyed 2,000 British families with children aged between 8-16 years old, was commissioned by The Week Junior to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the UK's only weekly news magazine for children. The magazine has launched a series of conversation chat starters to help families reconnect and rediscover the magic, and importance, of intergenerational dinner table dialogue. Family dinners were once a staple of British life for many years, however, with the rise of technology and changing routines, it seems the tradition of the daily family dinner is fading, with just one in three (32%) British families sitting down to eat together every day. A heavy news agenda adds another obstacle to conversation, with many parents feeling ill-equipped to navigate conversations in today's complex world. While 82% of children say they want the dinner table to be a place they can talk to their parents about what is happening in the world, the same proportion of parents admit they don't have these discussions regularly anymore. In fact, seven in ten (71%) parents admit they struggle to know what to say in the face of today's challenges, and only a third (33%) feel fully confident in explaining current affairs in a way that is accessible, accurate and reassuring. The author and child psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Kilbey, says there are many benefits to the family dinner conversation,which includes helping children's development and opening their minds to new ideas. Family dinners were once a staple of British life for many years (Image: The Week Junior) Despite the challenges, parents are keen to restore the value of mealtime conversations. Almost all (93%) say they would be more consistent in enforcing dinner table rules if it would benefit their children's development. This could have a positive impact for both children and parents, as a similar figure (94%) say they learn something from their children during these two-way discussions. In today's digital world, children are eager to engage too. Four in five (82%) say they want dinner to be a special time set aside exclusively for conversation with their parents. Most (88%) enjoy debating a wide range of topics, from global affairs to playground drama – and tellingly, the vast majority (83%) of children prefer having these conversations with their parents face-to-face at the table rather than over the phone. Dr. Elizabeth Kilbey said: 'In a world that's more connected yet increasingly disconnected, dinner time provides a powerful platform for fostering essential conversations and personal understanding. Vanessa Harriss, Editor of The Week Junior, adds: 'We know how imaginative and curious kids are. In our fast-paced daily lives, being able to spend time together as a family can be a challenge – and the digital distractions are ever more insistent. 'As our research shows, quality time spent together over the dinner table is vital for families. Whether it's chatting about everyday things or discussing what's going on in the news, these family conversations boost children's development and their wellbeing.'
The Guardian
01-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Just one in three British families eat together each day, survey shows
A quarter of British families no longer talk at dinner, with most bringing their phones to the table and 42% of parents saying they struggle to find a topic of conversation, a survey of 2,000 households shows. It found that just one in three families sit down to eat together every day and conversations are increasingly being replaced by scrolling and screens. Two-thirds (66%) of children aged eight to 16 said they would rather eat in front of a TV or computer than with a parent, and 51% said they actively used their devices while eating. However, it is not just young people who are increasingly being drawn towards their screens – 39% of children said they had to ask their parents to put down their phones at the table. Commissioned by The Week Junior, a weekly news magazine for children, the research found that a reluctance to discuss current events was part of the reason why dinner table conversation had fizzled out. Over 70% of parents said they struggled to discuss the news with their children and 42% found it difficult to come up with a topic of conversation altogether. In its latest edition, the magazine published a set of conversation cues for parents and children, such as 'If you were in charge of the country, what would you do?' and 'What's one thing you would like to know more about?' Vanessa Harriss, editor of The Week Junior, said: 'In our fast-paced daily lives, being able to spend time together as a family can be a challenge and the digital distractions are ever more insistent. 'Whether it's chatting about everyday things or discussing what's going on in the news, family conversations boost children's development and their wellbeing.' The research found that despite worrying signs dinner time conversation was dying out, children and parents were keen to bring it back. Of the children surveyed, 82% said they wanted dinner to be a special time set aside exclusively for conversation with their parents. The majority said they enjoyed discussing a range of topics, from global affairs to playground drama, and 83% said they preferred having these conversations with their parents face to face at the table, rather than over the phone. Of the parents, 93% said they would more consistently enforce dinner table rules if it helped their children's development and 94% said they learned something from their children in two-way discussions. Dr Elizabeth Kilbey, an author and child psychologist, said: 'These simple, daily interactions can make a significant impact, not just in strengthening family ties but in cultivating a generation equipped to lead empathetically and thoughtfully.' This year's World Happiness Report examined the link between eating together and wellbeing for the first time. It found that dining alone was becoming more prevalent, especially among young people, but those who shared more meals with others reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and social support.
