School run stress levels uncovered in new study and how to ease morning anxiety
Making simple changes to your family's morning routine can help reduce the stress of the school run, a new study has found.
Taking the kids to school can be a chaotic experience for many parents, with only a short amount of time to get everyone washed, fed, dressed and ready for the day ahead.
It's reflected in a new survey of parents, which found that just 30% of families in the UK take time to sit down to eat breakfast together regularly.
But there are said to be huge benefits for those who start their day in this way. Children who eat breakfast with their families are 17% more likely to enjoy the morning routine, the research found, when compared to those who eat their breakfast alone, on the go, at breakfast clubs, or skip it altogether.
Children who eat breakfast with their families are 17% more likely to enjoy the morning routine, the research found (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Parents are also 15% more likely to enjoy their morning if it is family-orientated, and eating breakfast together is believed to have a positive impact on the whole family’s mental health. The research, carried out by name label manufacturer mynametags.com, found that families who eat their morning meal around the table together are 7% less likely to experience anxiety when they wake up. Children who eat breakfast with their family are almost three times less likely to find mornings stressful than children who don’t have time for breakfast at all.
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The way families travel to school can also impact mental health, with parents who walk or cycle with their children most likely to view the journey as a valuable opportunity to spend quality time with their children. Parents who cycle to school with their children are most likely to report waking up feeling excited about their day, and the least likely to be anxious in the mornings. These benefits also appear be felt by the whole family, with parents who cycle also most likely to believe that their children enjoy the journey to school the most.
By contrast, those who use public transport or drive are 6% more stressed and 15% more likely to argue. It’s no surprise, therefore, that children who don’t have an active start to the morning are 14% more likely to go to school upset. Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director of mynametags.com, commented: "Our work centres around making parents’ lives easier, so we were interested to explore the pressures facing modern families. As a parent myself, I know first-hand how the school run can impact family dynamics, both positively and negatively. Our research reveals that our morning routine can have a significant impact on our outlook for the rest of the day. A simple thing such as making time to sit down as a family for a meal can significantly reduce anxiety, stress, and worry, whilst an active journey to school can offer a great opportunity for families to spend time together and enjoy some exercise, setting everyone up well for the day."
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