16 August 2023 , 10:04
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A hotel has launched the world's first holiday club for embarrassing dads, so they can mingle with their own kind and give their mortified children a break.
A worryingly high 54% of British teenagers agree that dads embarrass them on family holidays - by telling bad jokes, snoring by the pool and cringeworthy dancing. A study of 1,000 British teenagers found fathers leave them red-faced by making transgressions such as wearing socks with sandals, complaining loudly, causing frisbee accidents and constantly taking photos.
Other ways they inflict holiday embarrassment include wearing age-inappropriate clothing, being greedy at the buffet, using selfie sticks and getting up early to bag sun loungers.
The study was commissioned by easyJet Holidays, which has today launched the world's first in-hotel 'Dad’s Club' in the Spanish hotspot of Benalmádena, in partnership with comedian Omid Djalili.
Based at the the World Polynesia on the Costa del Sol, the unique club hopes to provide some cringe-free respite for teens, as well as a safe space for gaffe-prone dads to connect with their kind without being judged.
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All dads are welcome at Dads' Club (Joe Pepler/PinPep)In a promo video Djalili showcases the various activities on offer at the ‘school of cool’. With complimentary dad dancing lessons, frisbee and air guitar tuition as well as a joke workshop.
"It’s a rite of passage for us Dads to embarrass our kids. It comes with the job. So I’m very proud to have teamed up with easyJet Holidays to unveil a new club just for Dads. A safe space to learn how to throw a frisbee, dance without pulling a muscle and crafting brilliant jokes for the 21st century," he said.
Almost a quarter of teens admit to trying get out of a holiday to avoid these cringe-worthy moments. Another 43% can’t remember a holiday without a humiliating moment caused by their father.
But when polling the dads themselves, 53% claimed they think they are ‘cool’ on holiday. Although 34% admit to purposely humiliating their kids – and 49% believe it's their duty to do this.
Sarah Ockwell-Smith, a parenting expert, said: “Holidays are a perfect time to reconnect with teens, but sometimes all the extra time spent together can cause friction. Not to mention the excitement and freedom of holiday-mode causing some pretty cringey (according to the kids) behaviour, which can lead to embarrassment. Disco dancing, air guitar and socks and sandals? Definite trigger points."
The most embarrassing dad behaviour
- Telling bad jokes
- Dad dancing
- Comparing prices to everything back home
- Complaining loudly
- Trying to make friends with the locals
- Loud conversations with strangers
- Trying to join in with teen slang and getting it wrong
- Falling asleep by the pool and snoring
- Using pet nicknames in front of strangers
- Being greedy at the buffet
- Telling embarrassing anecdotes
- Constantly taking photos
- Wearing socks with sandals
- Wearing his team’s football shirt
- Wearing inappropriate clothes for their age
- Failing to be understood while speaking the local language
- Getting up early to reserve sun loungers
- Showing off in the pool – e.g. cannonballs
- Attempting TikTok memes/dances
- Wearing tiny swimming trunks