In an increasingly distraction-filled world, family time is getting harder to come by. However, only 29 percent of families have a rule about mandatory time as a family, according to new research of American families. That said, 84 percent of parents agree that having regularly scheduled time would help their families spend more quality time together. The new study of 2,000 American parents of school-aged children has uncovered that 85 percent of those surveyed also believe house rules are necessary for a comfortable life. However, 54 percent believe their household is more relaxed than the one they grew up in, while just one in six believe their house is more strict. More than half (52 percent) of modern households have a curfew — typically around 8:30 p.m.
As for the most common rules, half of American households have a rule about saying please and thank you (50 percent), while 49 percent enforce a rule about kindness and 48 percent require all homework be completed before playtime.
If you have trouble keeping control of clutter, you’re not alone: putting things back where they were found is the most frequently broken house rule in America. The other frequently broken house rules include cleaning up plates after eating (26 percent), no shouting (26 percent), and no looking at phones at the dinner table (24 percent).
The survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of A&W Root Beer, found that while families report spending time together through regular movie nights (62 percent) and regular meals together (61 percent), only 27 percent of families believe mandatory time together is the most important rule. That being said, 78 percent still wish they spent more time together.
“A&W Root Beer has been a part of a century of family memories, and while creating these traditions is timeless, when and how families spend time together has evolved,” said Derek Dabrowski, VP of Brand Marketing for A&W Root Beer. “While modern house rules may differ from family to family and from generation to generation, one thing has remained consistent – families are still seeking that quality time together.”
Schedules and technology distractions were cited as the biggest barriers to quality time as a family, according to the survey. Nearly three out of four respondents (72 percent) believe tech like phones, tablets, and other screens make it harder to connect as a family at home. Forty-six percent of the parents surveyed have a Netflix limit in their house. The limit? About three hours a day.
“To help families disconnect from outside distractions and reconnect with each other, we are calling on them to pledge to go to technology free for one hour on Friday nights this summer at www.rootbeer.com. Anyone who participates will receive a free 2L of Root Beer to add some ‘pop’ to their family fun nights” added Derek Dabrowski, VP of Brand Marketing for A&W Root Beer.
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