Latest news with #TheWeekJunior
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.'
Telegraph
02-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
I was struggling to make adult friends so I took a conversation class – here's what I learnt
We have forgotten how to talk to each other – and technology may be to blame. A new survey out today, conducted by The Week Junior, has found a quarter of families don't talk to each other over dinner, while an astonishing 77 per cent of us have our phones on the table while eating. And that's the families who do sit down to eat together – which only one in three actually do! Of course, these habits have a knock on effect as we grow up. If children aren't learning to converse with their parents, they'll struggle at school and beyond. Inevitably, if we're all glued to tech, then our conversation skills will fall by the wayside: we'll lose the ability to speak to each other and perhaps, even more importantly, listen. I can already feel that happening in my own life. Having moved to Cheltenham from the North West last year, I'm keen to make more local friends but struggling to delve beyond small talk and dive into something deeper. Existing friendships, meanwhile, have begun to shrivel: limited to a series of half-hearted texts, or catch-ups that go little beyond life's latest happenings. In short, I feel isolated. When I meet new people, I resort to the standard phrase much beloved by the Royals – 'And what do you do?' So I decided to see if I could improve my chatting skills by taking a course. Transformational Conversations is a pioneering short course run by the organisation Trigger Conversations. As founder Georgie Nightingall reveals, Trigger 'began out of [her own] frustration and sadness with the question 'So, what do you do?'' It's available as an online version, or three days in-person followed by four Zoom coaching sessions. I chose the latter. The course is divided into six modules and even includes topics such as mindset and identity, with methods I recognised from cognitive behavioural therapy. Coupled with Georgie's infectious enthusiasm – 'let go of doing things right, the main thing is to have fun!' – I found it an engaging deep dive into what makes conversations tick. These are the six skills I learnt along the way. How to improve your conversation skills Build rapport (and never say this phrase) Time spent in close proximity increases rapport but there are things you can do to accelerate it, from eye contact and smiling to having confidence and going first. Small talk is also great for building rapport, or maintaining it for existing relationships, and can act as a gateway to deeper conversation if used creatively, such as 'breaking the script', for example. This means trying to use a more imaginative and quirkier approach than 'What do you do' as an opener, or even answering this standard question by telling people what you do in your spare time, for example. On the course, my American classmate Daniel does that impeccably, responding to me asking 'What do you do?' by telling me he's currently studying improvisation and contemporary dance in his spare time. My other classmates included Claire – an amiable Londoner who joked her Liverpudlian husband had better social skills than her – plus Susi and Uwe, an endearing couple from Bavaria. Talk to strangers Studies show that even brief social exchanges with strangers can improve our wellbeing – and they can be interesting too, despite a tendency for us to undervalue such interactions beforehand. 'Everyone has a bit of gold… at least one thing to say that will surprise you, amuse you, horrify you, edify you,' is how author Joe Keohane explains it in his book The Power of Strangers. We also tend to underestimate how interested and caring strangers are towards our own 'deeper' admissions, so don't be afraid to share. You never know, that stranger could even become a future friend or partner. It's important to break out of our comfort zone and talk to people who may have different political views to us. In fact, such is our fractured society that, in 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared loneliness a global health concern. 'High rates of social isolation and loneliness around the world have serious consequences for health and wellbeing,' declared Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general. 'People without enough strong social connections are at higher risk of stroke, anxiety, dementia, depression, suicide and more.' Learn how to listen One module that taught this especially resonated with me. Entitled 'Deep listening', the name itself suggests that the art of good conversation lies not in speaking, but listening. It's amazing what people share when you shut up for a little longer. 'There are three common levels of listening,' Georgie tells us, turning to write them on her trusty flip chart. The first is 'listening to respond', where a listener tries to find common ground but then takes over with their own story ('oh yeah you went to New York? It's been a while since I've been. I have friends there actually…'). The second is 'listening for facts' like who, what and where. This can be useful initially, as the speaker feels heard and you're gathering information, but can soon feel akin to an interrogation – particularly if you're sharing nothing yourself. A dead end quickly looms. The holy grail is the third, listening for experience: what is the meaning for them? 'You pick up on elements like motivations, values, beliefs and emotions. Questions are often quite open,' explains Georgie. She writes down some examples – 'What was that like?, What does that mean for you?' – adding that statements like 'You seem to value beauty' also work well. 'You're trying to join the dots,' adds Georgie, 'and this leads to a deeper level of conversation'. Reflecting on this, I realise that I often linger in the first two modes of listening. I don't necessarily hijack the conversation but it quickly fizzles out if I don't know where to go after we've established common ground. And I do a lot of 'fact collecting', sometimes at the expense of sharing things myself. Craft a good question Crafting questions during a group exercise later that afternoon, I realised just how much nuance – and how many potential openings – there can be in one sentence. Our practice statement, 'I loved running along the Thames yesterday', prompts questions from 'How does running fit in your life?' to 'If you could run anywhere, where would you go?'. If you know how to ask, a conversation can have endless possibilities. Go beyond collecting facts and ask follow-up questions that explore someone's individual experience (for instance 'What was that like?'). You could also use empathetic techniques such as labelling ('It sounds like you feel/think/like/value…'). Plus, there is always mirroring (echoing back two or three key words, e.g. 'started volunteering') to encourage your conversation partner to delve deeper (a favourite technique, apparently, of the late Queen). Avoid interrupting Even looking like you're about to interrupt can be off-putting for the speaker, who might need time to find the right words. Exceptions apply, of course, for instance if you need to close the conversation or if you feel you aren't being given enough space to talk, in which case a pre-frame of 'sorry to interrupt' can be helpful before you jump in. End on a high If you liked a conversation and want to keep in touch, acknowledge what you enjoyed when saying goodbye, and see if there are ways to connect. For example, after a professional networking event, you might say 'I've really enjoyed our conversation, especially the part about X. Let's connect on LinkedIn and I'll see you at the event next month.' I stay in touch with Georgie and the group with four follow-up weekly Zoom calls afterwards, and a WhatsApp 'accountability' group to inspire consistent action. As Georgie says, while it helps to use the methods intentionally at first, they eventually become second nature. There's a real sense of kinship in the WhatsApp group, as we explore our struggles and celebrate our wins. Some days we feel unsociable, some conversations thrive as others fall flat, but that's OK, we all agree. To use a Strictly Come Dancing cliché, it's all part of the journey. Have I made any good friends in Cheltenham yet? No. But I have much greater faith that I will. After all, I now know how to better connect – and that makes all the difference.
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.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Discovery Education Unveils New Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month
CHARLOTTE, NC / / May 1, 2025 / Discovery Education today introduced a new collection of high-quality instructional materials supporting Mental Health Month. Established in 1949 by Mental Health America and observed each May, Mental Health Month educates about mental wellness. Discovery Education is the creator of essential K-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world. The resources within Discovery Education Experience, the essential companion for engaged K-12 classrooms, include: Life Skills Channel: This collection helps students develop critical life skills in the classroom and beyond, including topics like resiliency, character, personal responsibility, and more. Biking and Mental Health Article Analysis: Middle school students will learn to identify the author's purpose and evaluate how evidence is used to support the claim in a national news article from The Week Junior about the mental health benefits of cycling. Working with a Team: In this wellness activity, high school students will learn about the value of teamwork and collaboration. Discovery Education also offers free resources in collaboration with select partners, including: Ready-to-Use Activities: Students can explore ready-to-use activities on topics such as substance misuse, medication safety, and mental health that are designed to empower them to make smart, healthy choices. With content for students in grades K-12, the activities in both English and Spanish feature educator guides, interactive content, lesson plans, videos, and more. The materials are from Dose of Knowledge: A Pharmacists Teach program, a resource developed by CVS Health in partnership with Discovery Education. Animated Topic Series: The animated video series offers students in grades 6-12 relevant lessons focused on body confidence and its role in self-esteem. Accompanying classroom activities, educator guides, and videos empower educators to plug and play the content into any lesson. These resources are from Amazing Me!, a program with the Dove Self-Esteem Project dedicated to fostering self-esteem and body confidence among students. "Confidence and curiosity go hand-in-hand to support student wellness and success. It's important to offer all students a wide array of resources to explore the topic of mental wellness," said Lance Rougeux, Senior Vice President of Curriculum Instruction & Student Engagement at Discovery Education. For more information about Discovery Education's award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. ### About Discovery EducationDiscovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, K-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of education at ContactsGrace MaliskaDiscovery EducationEmail: gmaliska@ View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Discovery Education on Contact Info:Spokesperson: Discovery EducationWebsite: info@ SOURCE: Discovery Education View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
