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Parents Choose to Work Rather Than Communicate With Their Children: But At What Cost?

A new report has revealed how the recession is creating a generation of children with poor language and communication skills as three quarters of parents are forced to take on extra work to make ends
Lifestyle - 20 January 2012   Download IconContent available for download:  
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  News Hooks:

New evidence has revealed how an entire generation of children is growing up with poor language and communication skills as we discover the recession is forcing three quarters of parents (72%) to take on extra work instead of spending time with their family.
A new report by leading children’s charity I CAN and Openreach has revealed that 18% of mums and dads have had to take on a second job, over a third (34%) are working longer hours and one in five (20%) are taking on additional work from home, resulting in over half (55%) of parents admitting they have less quality time with their children.
Although parents understand the importance of regular, quality conversation with their children, worryingly, nearly three quarters (71%) spend 60 minutes or less chatting with their child everyday – with one in ten (10%) only speaking to their child for 15 minutes. Over a third (35%) blame this on ever increasing workloads, while one in five (19%) are simply too tired to chat with their youngster when they arrive home from work.
Now in its 11th year, the Chatterbox Challenge of 2012 aims to develop children’s communication skills through songs and rhymes, in homes, nurseries and playgroups across the country. This year will see ‘Kids in Motion’, where children will be combining words with actions and performing famous nursery rhymes and songs such as ‘Row Row Row Your Boat’ and ‘Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush’.

. Introduction:

The recession has been blamed for almost three quarters of parents being forced to take on extra work to make ends meet. A new report by children’s charity I CAN and Openreach has revealed that parents are working longer, bringing work home at night and in some cases even having to take on a second job. The survey has shown that children’s language development is in serious danger as the majority of parents have admitted to only chatting to their child for an hour or less per day, with some taking only fifteen minutes out for a chat. I CAN are calling for change. They are encouraging parents and their children to get involved in the Chatterbox Challenge to develop children’s confidence in speaking and learning.

So how can we get our ‘Kids in Motion’ this Chatterbox Challenge?

Joining us to discuss this further is Kate Freeman; I CAN Communication Advisor and an experienced early year’s speech and language therapist.

. Suggested Questions:

What does the research reveal about how the recession has affected parents spending time with their children in our area?

What are the consequences of parents not spending quality time chatting with their children?

When is the best time in the day for parents to chat to their child and how can they do this?

Why is it important for children to develop communication skills early?

What is the Chatterbox Challenge and how can we get involved?

What advice do you have for parents who are concerned that they might not be spending enough time talking and chatting with their child?

Where can we find out more information?