Six in ten parents say their most helpful parenting tool - is their smartphone
Three-quarters of mums and dads (74%) say their phone has been a great help in difficult parenting moments – such as getting advice quickly, and researching child ailments or illnesses.
Over two-thirds of parents (67%) mostly use their device to take photos, snapping as many as 23 pics of their little one each week. Other top uses for their mobile phones include sending WhatsApp messages (62%) – with an average of 11 messages a week sent to those closest to them.
And three in five frequently use their smartphone to check the weather forecast, while 36% download or stream content to keep their child entertained while out and about – with an average of 12 hours streamed per week. As such, the survey of 1,000 parents, with children aged six and under, found that 61% claim their device is their most helpful tool when it comes to bringing up their youngsters.
And 43% say they have “no idea” how people raised children before the invention of smartphones. It also emerged parents (39%) are twice as likely to go over their data allowance than those without children (19%), according to a separate survey of 2,000 adults.
The survey was commissioned by network provider Three UK, which is working with digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation, on its National Databank, to double its data donation to two million gigabytes.
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Aislinn O’Connor, at Three UK, said: “We know the important role phones play in people’s lives. As the research shows, this role becomes even more important after you’ve had a child – your phone becomes a critical addition to your family, playing the role of entertainer, doctor, connector, and much more in everyday life.
“Through our work with Good Things Foundation, we’ll ensure people across the country get online – and, in doing so, that thousands of parents are able to use their phones as a helping hand in their new family.”
The research, via OnePoll.com, also found that other common mobile phone uses for mums and dads include shopping for baby-related items – and using a search engine as many as 77 times each week, when in need of help or advice. As a result, 34% have had to increase their data to allow for this volume of activity – with the average parent going over their designated amount each month by a total of five gigabytes.
Three UK has also partnered with father and musician, Professor Green, to highlight the importance of being connected through your phone as a new parent. He said: “When I became a father, I found out that phones become your second or third pair of hands. They are an amazing source of information, advice, and connect you to your support network your when you need it most.
“Phones are amazing tools, but even more so when you’re a new parent. They are a direct line to gran when you’re in an emergency, a vital research tool when the little one is feeling ill, or the source of much needed entertainment, for you and the kid, while you’re on the move. All the things you took for granted about your phone before, suddenly become a blessing as a parent. That’s why it’s so important to help people that need to be connected, like new parents, get connected.”
According to the brand, the initiative will see free pre-paid SIM cards distributed over the next two years to those who are unable to afford or access them – ensuring everyone can use their phone freely wherever they need to, whenever they need to.
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