Ignoring calls and texts, not sharing updates on their whereabouts – and messy rooms – are among the top things kids do that frustrate their parents.
A poll of 1,000 mums and dads with children aged between 11 and 17, found many are driven mad when offspring don’t let them know what their plans are after school.
Others parents see red when youngsters forget to charge their phones, or come home after school later than they’re meant to.
With the back-to-school season just around the corner, 54% of parents reported feeling stressed about the start of the new school year.
Three quarters admit their kids don’t want to think about the new term until the last possible moment – creating extra frustration for mums and dads alike.
To combat this, 40% use alternative tech like location-sharing apps, to help calm their stress and frustrations and co-ordinate busy family schedules better.
The research was commissioned by family connection and safety company, Life360, which has partnered with podcaster and parent, Luisa Zissman, as parents look to coordinate the chaos of family life and alleviate stress this back-to-school season.
Luisa said: “Back-to-school season can be super stressful trying to coordinate the family’s busy schedule. It can be made even more difficult when my daughter is off doing her own thing and doesn’t answer calls or texts, or let me know what her plans are after school.
She added: “I’ve found that giving her the freedom she craves, while staying connected through tech and devices, really helps us both.”
“Knowing where she is without having to constantly chase her for updates has taken a lot of stress out of our routine and helped me better coordinate our family’s busy schedule.
“It’s comforting to know exactly when she’s on her way home or heading to a friend’s place. This peace of mind lets us navigate the back-to-school chaos with a lot less stress.”
Parents send on average five messages each week asking about their kids’ whereabouts – with 59% sometimes getting ignored – and another four weekly texts trying to find out when they’ll be home.
When asked about why they use location-sharing apps with their children, 56% of those parents polled, via OnePoll, said that it gives them peace of mind.
Three in 10 (28%) said it helps to build trust when they can see their kids are where they said they would be, while 13% find it helps manage busy family schedules.
David Rice, international general manager at Life360, added: “The back-to-school season is stressful enough for both parents and kids without constantly chasing each other for updates on each other’s whereabouts.
“By ensuring the whole family is always in the loop, parents and kids can ease some of that anxiety and navigate the chaos with a bit more confidence.”
