Board games and pets losing favour as techno savvy kids prefer to spend Christmas Day online Over a third of British parents reveal that their offspring are now more likely to email Santa, than pen personal letters

Santa’s inbox is andreamaireset to overflow with Christmas wishes this year, as the nation’s tech tweens give many of our familiar traditional activities a festive upgrade. Past seasonal essentials, from posting letters to Santa or ‘thank-yous’ to relatives, to playing board games or asking for a new pet, look set to die out, according to research released today.

The study was released to mark the launch of the all new entertainment website Disney.co.uk, and quizzed over 3,000 parents about the way technology is shaping their children’s’ upbringing and the effect it is having on the way families experience Christmas and the festive season.

Over a third (34%) of British parents with children of a primary school age (5-11) revealed that their offspring are now more likely to email Santa, rather than sit down and pen personal letters, whilst half (51%) of those with kids of secondary school age (11-18) are sending e-cards, rather than traditional Christmas cards to friends and family

The traditional thank-you letter, a widespread post Christmas ritual for generations, is also something of a ghost of Christmas past as over a third of parents (38%) commented that their techno savvy kids will send their thank-yous for Christmas gifts via email. The study highlights a generation of children who may never lick a stamp or visit a post box as three quarters of parents (76%) rate their offspring as clueless when it comes to knowing the price of sending a letter or card.

Half (53%) of British parents are expecting to shell out a whopping £250 per child this Christmas, with one in ten (9%) estimating that they will spend over £200 on technology alone. Over a third (36%) declared that computer games and software were top of their kids’ wish lists this year, while a smaller percentage (12%) reported that their offspring have asked for a new computer or laptop.

Technology use amongst British kids is set to soar on Christmas day this year, with 39% of parents estimating that their kids will disappear to their bedrooms to go online to play new games or chat with friends. A further 11% claimed that their kids will spend at least 15 hours on average online over the festive period.

A third (34%) of parents revealed that their kids are keen on creating their own blogs from a young age, with a fifth (21%) expecting that their child will record their activities over the Christmas period for the benefit of friends and relatives abroad or in other parts of the country. Family pictures (17%), Christmas wish lists (14%), plans for the holidays (13%) and what friends and family are doing over the festive season (8%) are the most popular features of a tween blog.

Board games, a firm family favourite throughout the twentieth century, are also likely to be left in the cupboard over the Christmas break, as two fifths of parents (39%) suggested that they are more likely to log in with their techno hungry kids to embrace the learning potential and positive impact that the internet can have. A third of those surveyed (34%) revealed that their offspring are likely to choose the internet over watching television on the big day too, although (47%) will do both.

Requests for pets, which have traditionally always figured highly in Christmas wish lists, have taken a nose dive thanks to the increase in popularity of interactive websites. A quarter of parents (27%) revealed that their child has never asked for a cat or a dog for Christmas, and 47% said that they doubt their offspring would give a pet the time and attention it needs. One in six (15%) reported that their children are more than happy to look after interactive pets online instead.

Pierre Dadd, Online Marketing Manager at Disney.co.uk said: “Today’s kids view technology and the internet as second nature, often watching TV, listening to music and chatting online at the same time. It is not surprising its impact will be felt over the Christmas period. The internet is invaluable at this time of year for families that are apart, as well as for reaching the elusive Father Christmas.”