Nine in ten parents are planning their kids’ activities around things they also enjoy – with a trip to the beach or zoo particular favourites
Parents secretly love playing on swings, jumping on a bouncy castle and having water fights, new research has shown. A survey of 1,000 mums and dads revealed 87 per cent believe participating in children’s activities is ‘one of the best things about being a parent’. Beach adventures, zoo visits and theme park attractions topped the list of parents’ favourite activities to do with their kids.
Meanwhile, others quietly enjoy colouring in, water fights and playing with toys. Rather than feeling bored while their youngsters play, 27 per cent enjoy having a go on swings or getting involved on the bouncy castle.
For eight in ten parents joining in with activities makes them ‘feel younger’ – by an average of 14 years. Many parents also said it had a positive impact on their mental health and reminded them of what is truly important in life.
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Catherine Lyver, from Railcard.co.uk, which commissioned the study and provides a Family & Friends Railcard offering savings of a third on adult train fares and 60 per cent on child fares, said: “The research shows parents relish the opportunity to relive the magic of childhood with their kids – and travelling by train makes it even more special.
“From beach days and zoo trips to theme parks and aquariums, these shared experiences can help bring families even closer together over the school holidays.”
The research discovered the majority of parents wish they could savour more quality time with their kids. However, work commitments, increased living costs and struggling to come up with new ideas can sometimes be a barrier.
The research unveiled that nearly all parents plan activities with their kids that they enjoy doing too, at least some of the time. With 16 per cent confessing that they always choose something they will have fun doing as well as their youngsters.
A third (33 per cent) of parents prefer to travel by train on their days out, with 61 per cent of those enjoying being able to give their full attention to their child.
But 56 per cent like that the adventure starts ‘as soon as you board the train’ and 53 per cent said it helped enable quality time as a family.
Catherine Lyver added: “Summer is a time for play – whether you are an adult or a child.
“And we want to encourage parents to reclaim their joy of play and adventure with the kids over the school holidays by taking advantage of savings on travel and attractions across Britain when you travel by train.”
THE TOP 20 ‘KIDS’ ACTIVITIES PARENTS SECRETLY LOVE:
- Going to the beach
- Going to the zoo
- Going on theme park rides
- Visiting aquariums
- Going to see family friendly shows at the theatre
- Doing puzzles or kids board games
- Going to museums and galleries more aimed at children
- Going to animal farms or petting zoos
- Water fights
- Colouring in or arts and crafts
- Playing hide and seek
- Visiting educational historic places
- Playing with children’s toys
- Activities related to our favourite movies, TV shows or books
- Paddling in the sea
- Going to playgrounds and going on the swings, climbing on climbing frames etc
- Building sandcastles
- Playing with their toy cars or remote-control cars
- Doing outdoor climbing adventures (e.g. high wires, rope climbs, abseiling etc.)
- Bouncing on a bouncy castle