Kids who don’t play grow up lacking life and social skills

Free play is a vital part of a child’s development, and children of future generations could enter adulthood lacking vital life and social skills because of a lack of it.

That’s according to a new study by Persil, whose Every Child Has The Right campaign has recently launched.

A staggering 85% of British mums are concerned that children are growing up too quickly, and 64% believe children are being deprived of childhood through the lack of free play.

Free play helps the following areas of children’s development:

• Boosts their imagination and creativity
• Improves language and expression
• Helps them stay active and prevents obesity
• Reduces stress
• Helps raise self-confidence
• Increases emotional development and social skills for later on in life

Ideally, parents should make time each day for at least one hour of active play, outdoors if possible.

Children need little structure or encouragement, because they are naturally active. They just need the time, permission, and the right space.

The Free Play Initiative focuses on five areas within play that can help a child’s development: Play, Explore, Create, Imagine and Experiment.

More information is available at www.persil.com.

Fifth of UK families liken themselves to the Royles?

According to a recent survey by Vodafone, one in five British families liken themselves to the Royle Family, while just over one in six saw a likeness between their own family and The Simpsons.

TV soap families like the Battersbys, Mitchells, Gallaghers and Trotters were among the families Brits thought they were the least like.

The strong traditional values of the Waltons made it the family that over half of Brits would most like to emulate even though only 16% could say they were actually like them. Only 32% of families say they are part of a family that follows Waltons-like traditional family values, even though 92% of people have a good idea of what makes traditional family values.

The survey reveals the top three most important things for a family to do is to talk regularly (90%), eat dinner together (71%) and celebrate special occasions together (69.%).

Also underlined by the survey was the old adage you can choose your friends but not your family. Two-thirds of the UK population would love to be able to choose their family, with over a third wishing they had a personal friend in their family and 15% even wanting a celebrity to be a relative.

Ian Haynes, Head of Product Marketing for Vodafone UK, said, “What’s clear from our survey is that while there are many different types of families in the UK, everyone wants to keep traditional values alive. Talking regularly to one another is voted as really important. Not everyone can always sit together at the dinner table, so whether by voice or text, family communication is generally made easier with the mobile.”

Of course, that leads nicely onto a plug for Vodafone, who has just introduced the Vodafone Family tariff, where one person pays £5 a month and can nominate three contract or pay as you talk people to join their “Family”. They can then make unlimited calls between each other. There’s also a £7 per month package for up to six people to join.

Computer games can help adults bond with their kids, casual gaming survey reveals

According to a recent worldwide casual gaming survey, 70% of family members have seen educational benefits of their children and grandchildren playing computer games, while a whopping 92% say that casual games provide an opportunity for them to bond with them.

PopCap Games commissioned the survey and found some other interesting statistics that suggest not all video games are bad, either educationally or in terms of isolating kids.

Casual games provided the following observed benefits: improved hand-eye coordination and mental dexterity (68%), improved learning, such as pattern recognition and spelling (60%), mental workouts/cognitive exercises (51%), strengthened memory (48%), stress relief and relaxation (44%), and confidence building/affirmation (37%).

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Kids’ top holiday essential: a favourite book

Good news for any parents worried that children today are only interested in technology and the Internet: a new survey by gogoblin.co.uk suggests that children’s number one packing priority is a book.

The latest Harry Potter book may well have played a part in the survey results. 57% said they’d definitely be
taking a book away with them, compared to 35% who’ll take a games console and 31% who’ll take sports equipment.

Music is quite popular, with 30% saying they would take their ipod or MP3 player. Only 16% will definitely be taking board games, although card games are quite popular, with 30% packing those. Something to cuddle at night is a must for half of children, who clearly want a home from home at bedtime.

Jane Manson, CEO of gogoblin.co.uk, said, ““I think that the results of this survey are really encouraging! However much we think we have a nation of high-tech kids, the fact that the good old book is still the must-have to take on holiday for children is great news. It’’s an accepted fact that adults want a good read while they’’re relaxing on the beach, but obviously it’’s something the whole family like to do to unwind. And with gogoblin, children can always have the books that they want on their wish list so parents can make sure that they get them something they will really want to read on holiday!””

Gogoblin supports the WorldVision charity, which works alongside communities in almost 100 countries in their struggle against poverty, hunger and injustice, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

    

Women rule in the home and marriage, study suggests

A small study from researchers at Iowa University has concluded that many women rule the marriage relationship and the home, due in part to changing times and roles of the sexes.

The survey of 72 married couples shows that the man does not always hold the power, particularly where children are concerned.

“Roles have changed in a relationship. Women are no longer just in charge of the house and cleaning and cooking and standing there with a martini when husbands come home,” Dr. Fariello said.

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Teens and pre-teens increase cell phone use during the summer

When school’s out, children and teenagers are increasingly to be found using their mobile phone, according to a new Disney Mobile Cell and Tell survey by Harris Interactive.

Teen and tween cell phone use in the summer jumps to more than 3 hours and 45 minutes a day, an increase of more than an hour a day as compared with a normal school day.

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FHM set to pull the covers back the globe’’s sexual activities

FHM have officially launched the world’’s biggest sex survey promising to reveal the world’’s inner most sexual desires, turn offs, antics and habits. From Mexico to Malaysia and Sweden to South Africa, 31 countries covering 21 different languages are invited to contribute to what will be the largest search of its type in the history of mankind.

Sexual themes and trends will be exposed, while comparisons will be drawn from the bedroom performances and preferences from nations all around the world. What nation is the most active? Who make the best lovers? Who are the most promiscuous? All will be unveiled!

It is expecting that there will be millions of responses worldwide and there is only one way you can be part of sex history.

To take part in FHM’’s Global Sex Survey visit FHM.com where a full list or questions are provided.

Many men willing to get involved to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault

According to new research by Peter D Hart Research Associates on behalf of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, over half of men think it’s very or fairly likely that, at some point in their lives, they will know a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, and most are willing to take action to raise awareness, help victims, and promote healthy, violence-free relationships.

“Across the board, men want more done to stop domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Verizon (who supported the research) Wireless President and CEO Lowell McAdam. “Men are ready to do their part by talking to the next generation, donating wireless phones to help victims and more. Verizon Wireless will continue its commitment to stop violence, and encourages men — and women — to take action.”

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One in five UK couples on verge of break-up, survey shows

Research by the InsideDivorce.com web site suggests that 1 in 5 British couples are on the verge of a break-up.

Nearly half (44%) of married people surveyed say that their sex lives have decreased while a further one in ten married couples are having no sex at all. These figures are particularly worrying for men, with ‘lack of sex’ being cited as the single biggest factor in relationship breakdown.

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Overuse of technology could be harming marriages, survey suggests

A new study in America shows that, of 1001 adults surveyed, 65% admitted to spending more time with their computers than their spouse or partner.

84% of people said they’d grown more dependent upon their computer in the past 3 years. I wonder how many have grown more dependent (or interdependent) on their partner in that time?

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