Children Want to Spend More Time with Dads
Almost one in five children are unable to name any shared activities undertaken with their fathers in the past week and they are much less likely to have undertaken any domestic and educational activities with their fathers than with their mothers.
They are also much more likely to share their problems with their mothers than their fathers; almost nine in ten of all 8-11 year-olds would confide in their mothers, compared with less than six in ten who would talk to their fathers. Older children (12-15) were asked who they would talk to about specific problems. For example, just over a third would approach their fathers about health and body problems while four in five would discuss these issues with their mothers.
Children also have 'traditional' views on the role of a good father. They think it is more important for fathers to make and mend things around the house and make them laugh, but feel that to 'do things for you like washing and cooking' is more the job of a good mother.
However, overall most children experience a caring relationship with their parents, respect authority and place a high value on family, friendships and educational success.
These findings are based on a MORI survey of 1,000 8-15 year-olds for the NSPCC and the findings are published in a report "Talking About My Generation".
