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Parenting on Female First
A new study of almost 2,000 modern families looked into the moral and practical guidelines set by parents today and revealed a host of old fashioned values which still have a place in modern households.
According to 76% of parents, table manners is the most important value we teach our children, followed by being honest and truthful (73%) and respecting your elders (69%).
Although 69% claimed the values they grew up with as a child still resonate today, a further 75% claim they have created a new set of family values which fit with modern life.
According to the study by Beko, modern day family values include the importance of recycling (53%), healthy eating (48%), no iPads or iPhones at the dinner table (46%) and respecting other religions and cultures (44%).
Other important values for families include equal childcare for both parents (36%) and equal distribution of the household chores (31%). Not fighting over the remote control (29%) and not snooping on another family member's Facebook account also made the list.
Dr Becky Spelman commented on the research "It's interesting to see how important manners are to our values as a nation. Teaching our children good manners isn't about imposing adults' will on them, but about equipping them with the social skills that they will need to navigate a complicated world."
"Just because we conduct so much of our life online, that doesn't mean old-fashioned manners, such as helping out with household chores and eating dinner together as a family aren't just as important. Children who learn how to behave in a way that respects others' boundaries are being taught how to manage social situations in a way that will stand them in good stead for life."
The research found that 96% of Britons believe that strong family values prepare children for a happy and successful life.
Shalika Hooda, Brand Manager at home appliance brand Beko, who commissioned the report said, "It's heart-warming to see that while modern family life is ever changing and the need for parents to multi-task increases, we are still traditional in many of our values."
22% of the adults polled claimed their own parents criticise them for the values they instil on their families, with a further 30% saying they feel the need to defend their new family values to their parents. And 90% defended their family values further, claiming they were just as important as the values of previous generations.
The report also found the average Brit spends 24 hours a week of "quality time" with their families, with 83% saying family mealtimes are the most important time together.
25 Modern Day British Family Values
1. Having good table manners - 76%
2. Being honest and truthful - 73%
3. Respecting your elders - 69%
4. Not talking with your mouth full - 66%
5. Standing up for those you love - 64%
6. Remembering your Ps and Qs - 59%
7. Washing your hands before dinner - 58%
8. Everyone helping with family chores - 58%
9. The importance of recycling - 53%
10. Regular quality time with all the family - 49%
11. The importance of healthy eating - 48%
12. No iPads or iPhones at the dinner table - 46%
13. Respecting other religions and cultures - 44%
14. Being a team player - 43%
15. Always eating Sunday lunch together - 43%
16. Always looking someone in the eye when meeting them - 40%
17. Thank you emails for birthdays and Christmases - 38%
18. Children should ask to leave the table - 36%
19. Equal childcare from both parents - 36%
20. Equal distribution of chores between both parents - 31%
21. No fighting over the remote control - 29%
22. Having a firm handshake - 26%
23. Not snooping on someone else's Facebook account - 25%
24. Keeping in touch with relatives via FaceTime - 17%
25. Open phone policies for partners and parents - 15%