Lazy? Your children are putting in a 46-hour week!

CHILDREN are now working longer hours than their parents with some slaving for over 46 hours a week.

A study shows that parents are creating ambitious timetables for their offspring with extra- curricular activities in addition to school commitments. This means children are actually working harder than the average parent – who does only a 37.5 hour week.

The average child already completes 30 hours and 50 minutes a week at school Monday to Friday, as well as seven hours and 51 minutes of clubs and homework. Actively reading with parents daily accounts for a further five hours and 49 minutes a week. The Center Parcs study of 2,000 parents also found the average child also helps with housework for up to an hour and 37 minutes each week.

Colin Whaley, of Center Parcs, said: ‘ We commissioned this report to further understand family life and what challenges parents and children are facing and overcoming, so we can always ensure we’re offering what they need. What has undoubtedly come out of this is the need for families – parents and children alike – to take time out to relax.’

In response to the findings, Center Parcs commissioned Channel 4 child psychologist Dr Sam Wass to develop a ‘recommended daily allowance’ for free time – which equates to three hours and 51 minutes every day.

The allowance is based on three hours on a week day and six hours a day at the weekend, calculated using time needed for a variety of free-time activities which will allow children to use their imagination and develop creative thinking.

Dr Wass said: ‘Many parents are desperate to do the right thing for their children – we shuttle them back and forth from school, to football, to an after- school club, and then get them home and sit and ensure they do their homework.

‘But research suggests it’s much more beneficial for children if their time is not always so structured. It’s the down-time, when there is not such much going on and the child has to entertain themselves, when they do their best learning.

‘There is a huge amount of research that suggests that this child-led, unstructured free play is vital for stimulating imagination and creativity, as well as helping the child to become more self-sufficient.’