- LISTENING TO MUSIC AND TRADITIONAL GAMES STILL POPULAR
- BUT NEARLY A THIRD OF PARENTS COULDN’T SURVIVE WITHOUT ELECTRONIC GADGETS
- ONE IN TEN (13%) COPE BY VISUALISING THEIR FIRST BEER OR WINE ON ARRIVAL
A new survey reveals the top ten ways parents cope with long car journeys with their children, with electronic gadgets now an essential item of survival kit for most families.
The survey carried out by Opinium, and commissioned by iCarhireinsurance.com , a leading provider of stand-alone car hire excess insurance, asked parents with school-age kids for their top tips on surviving long (over two hour) car journeys.
Nearly two fifths (38%) admit that electronic gadgets make long journeys more enjoyable, and nearly a third (29%) say they could not survive without them. 84% also set no time limits for how long the kids use them.
However, traditional car activities remain popular with music playing from the car system (42%) and classic car games, such as iSpy (40%), still coming out top. Parents who wish to interact with their children may be in the minority but over one in ten (13%) actually ban electronic devices on long journeys, because 10% of them say these journeys are a good opportunity to talk.
- “You really do know all the words….” (parents said with a heavy heart): Playing music in the car is the most popular entertainment (42%), with nearly a quarter (24%) downloading a playlist for the family and 23% creating individual child playlists.
- “I spy with my little eye….”: Two fifths (40%) say they play classic car games, like iSpy and 20 Questions.
- “I can’t hear you”: A third (36%) provide headphones for kids’ electronic devices so they don’t have to listen to the game, YouTube video or film their kids may be watching.
- “It’s my turn”: Nearly a third (32%) give each child their own device so they don’t have to share.
- “Can we listen to it again, and again, and again?”: Nearly a third (31%) listen to their child/ren’s favourite song or CD on repeat.
- “Just one more…”: A third (30%) of parents admit to bribing their children to be well behaved with treats and sweets.
- “Yes, you can have the kids’ meal”: Nearly a third (30%) promise a visit to a fast food outlet.
- “It has to be a U or PG”: More than a quarter (28%) let their children watch movies on long car journeys, while 18% listen to audio book, and 11% to podcasts.
- “Super Mario, Pokemon or Minecraft?”: A quarter (27%) let their children play computer games on long car journeys.
- “Get the beer and wine on ice!”: 13% of parents survive a long car journey by visualising their first pint or glass of wine on arrival.
“I’ve done many long car journeys with my children, and it can be difficult to keep them all entertained, especially when they’re all different ages and have different interests. I’m glad it isn’t just me who hands over the tablets to have a bit of peace.” said Ernesto Suarez, CEO and founder of iCarhireinsurance.com.
Ernesto continues, “One thing you don’t want to be worrying about when hiring a car with kids, is the amount you’re going to have to pay if it’s damaged or stolen, which can be up to £2,000 even if it’s not your fault. Make sure you buy excess insurance from a standalone provider like iCarhireinsurance.com before you drive your hire car, to not only save you money, but to give you total peace of mind, once the kids have their gadgets and headphones on that is.”