A third of parents are worried their families will find it hard to ‘ return to normal’
MORE than half of parents ( 55%) are worried they’ll experience ‘ separation anxiety’ as they return to workplaces and children go back to schools and nurseries.
Research among 2,000 mums and dads of children aged up to 16, found a third also fear their families will struggle to ‘ return to normal’ after spending so much time together recently.
Nearly four in 10 parents are nervous about their children returning to school or nursery, while a third think they have become more protective as a parent.
And one in four admitted to feeling a need to ‘ wrap their children in cotton wool’ as they return to their old routines.
The study, commissioned by self- care company Perrigo UK and Ireland, also found four in 10 parents have found comfort in being able to protect their family’s health while at home. As a result, 60% think it’s a good idea to take extra precautions as they return to ‘ normal’.
Laure de Brauer, a spokeswoman from Perrigo UK and Ireland said: “We’ve all experienced a heightened awareness of our families’ health in recent months.
“It will be a learning curve for us all to feel comfortable again, but many parents are finding peace of mind in taking extra precautions to keep their families healthy.
“We believe self- care is vitally important, particularly in these uncertain times, so it’s encouraging to see consumers feeling empowered to take their wellbeing into their own hands as much as possible.”
The study also revealed nearly half of parents worry their kids will fall unwell when returning to school or nursery, with 14%
concerned their children will get head lice. And 17% fret about how a new routine might affect their sleep. As a result, 34% have been making sure their medicine cabinet is well stocked with over- the- counter medications.
Mums and dads have also been taking hand sanitiser to work and packing it in their child’s school bag or boosting their youngster’s immune system with vitamins. The research, conducted via OnePoll, found the average parent has already spent more than £ 20 on preventative health measures to protect their family for their return to ‘ normality’.