Families spend just six hours together a week, due to work hours and cost-of-living crisis

The typical family spends just six hours a week together – as long working hours and digital devices keep them apart. A study of 2,000 mums and dads, with children at home, found their work shifts are the top cause of hindering family time (56 percent), as well as homework (29 percent), and social media use (20 percent).

Almost a third (31 percent) also blame their lack of time together on the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

And a quarter claimed communication within households hasn’t been the same since the economic climate changed.

This comes despite 35 percent having spent more time at home as a unit in the past 12 months due to the cost-of-living crisis – but 42 percent admitted they’re usually all in different rooms.

More than a third (34 percent) have also experienced increased emotional strain in light of the economy.

As a result, the typical week sees families spend six hours all together – less than an hour a day – and only eat a meal as a household on four days out of seven.

A fifth (21 percent) claim to have had more group meals prior to the cost-of-living crisis – with other barriers to dining more often including after school clubs (26 percent), different dishes (31 percent), and varying mealtimes (34 percent).

The research was commissioned by McCain, to mark the launch of its “Teatime to Talk” cards, a collection of conversation starters.

The digital cards have been developed in partnership with British child psychologist, Laverne Antrobus, to help families connect during mealtimes, and improve imagination and problem-solving skills.

Further factors which have hampered quality time were household chores (27 percent), TV use (21 percent), and after-school clubs (19 percent).

When families are at home together, 37 percent don’t set aside specific time to spend with one another, and 49 percent think there are distractions at home, such as TVs and games consoles, which impact quality time.

A quarter of mums and dads polled would like to eat more family meals together to encourage conversation, as 42 percent admitted they struggle to initiate chats with their children.

The most popular topics around the table when they do dine together are school (50 percent), TV shows (48 percent), and their kid’s friendships (46 percent).

And aside from mealtimes, parents are most likely to chat to their children when in the car (57 percent), putting them to bed (40 percent), and walking to and from school (38 percent).

Mark Hodge, at McCain Foods UK&I, said: “It’s clear from the research that many families across the UK are struggling to make the most of time together – so we’re delighted to be launching “Teatime to Talk” today, to help families have more quality time with each other over dinner.

“Our cards are relevant for all ages and abilities, and we hope they help families to enjoy those simple moments that matter, such as teatime.”

The research also revealed what parents define as family time – with eating together coming top (74 percent), followed by watching TV as a group (66 percent), and cooking (46 percent).

Seven in ten surveyed, via OnePoll, actively try and set aside at least one day a week for their family to sit down and eat together, with the evening meal most likely to be when this happens (67 percent).

Sunday was found to be the day households most often have a group meal (44 percent), followed by Saturday (39 percent) and Friday (25 percent) – suggesting weekdays are busiest.

All chipping in with the cooking (36 percent), a birthday in the home (35 percent), and kids helping with meal planning (29 percent), have also helped encourage families to eat together.

However, three in ten admitted mealtimes are the only time their household gets to spend quality time with one another.