4 in 5 parents believe Coronavirus lockdown brought family CLOSER together

Four in five parents believe the coronavirus lockdown has brought their family CLOSER together, a study has found.

A poll of 2,000 parents found the extra time at home, without the distraction of school and extra-curricular activities gives mums, dads and kids more of an opportunity to bond.

Just under two thirds (62 per cent) also believe the crisis has made their children more ‘community minded’, with 53 per cent going out of their way to help friends and neighbours.

The most common job is picking up groceries for vulnerable people (73 per cent), while 53 per cent have collected vital medication for frail neighbours.

And more than half of those polled have phoned someone in isolation to provide mental health support.

Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com, which commissioned the research, said:

“Being forced to halt our busy lives and spend time together in quarantine has made many of us consider what’s really important, like children, parents and the community they are part of.

“Despite the dreadful toll the pandemic is taking, people are becoming more thankful for the small pleasures in life.

“Coronavirus may well see us emerge a kinder community and more thankful for the things we enjoy in life.”

The study found half of all families are spending more time playing traditional games and puzzles, while three in 10 are reading more books together. And 28 per cent have taken up gardening as a family activity.

By contrast, only a third are allowing kids to watch more TV, while just a quarter have relaxed rules on screen time on tablets, phones or gaming consoles.

However, after home schooling kids for the last month, parents also admitted to having a new-found respect for teachers. In fact, a whopping nine in 10 parents polled say their opinion of educators is now even higher after having the kids at home.

To join MumPoll, an online survey site partnering with ChannelMum, go to https://members.onepoll.com/partner-sign-up/channel-mum