All it takes is 10 minutes a day to create lasting, meaningful moments.

We’ve teamed up with top Clinical Psychologist, Dr Martha Deiros Collado to share new research that revealed parents in the UK are missing out on 1,000+ interactions with their children every year.

The study revealed that:

- Almost a third of parents (32%) admit to missing out on three or more key moments daily – which includes simple things like chatting about their days or playing together (these missed moments equate to 1,095 instances of missed hugs, laughs, chats and heart-to-hearts a year!)

- The main reason for parents missing these all-important moments with their children is work (68%), followed by housework (52%), school (33%) and extra-curricular activities for either the children (23%) or parents themselves (17%)

- One in ten parents (11%) also admitted to missing major milestones like their child’s first steps and first day at school or nursery.

In order to help parents recapture these missed moments, we teamed up with Dr Martha to share five simple ideas to help get started:

1. Create family rituals across your week: “When you do things regularly in a predictable routine it can build anticipation and feel easier to do. This doesn’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming, it is about finding the small things that bring you all shared enjoyment. Some things that work for me and my family includes: Weekly game nights, Sunday roasts, Saturday night TV with hot chocolates or nature walks.”

2. Unplug to connect: “Smartphones and screens can become barriers to meaningful family time. Consider creating phone-free zones in your home (e.g. at mealtimes and in bedrooms) so when you are together in these areas of your home all you have is face-to-face interaction.”

3. Prioritise the outdoors: “It can be hard over the winter months to get enough sunlight. Try and prioritise spending 10 minutes a day outdoors, be it walking, cycling, scooting, or kicking a ball together. As the weather gets warmer, why not have a picnic lunch outdoors at the weekend? Nature has a way of inspiring wonder and curiosity, which can help families bond and find pleasure in everyday moments.”

4. Schedule it: “The same way you schedule a work call or put important dates in the calendar, bookmark quality family time and make it a priority. Put an alert on your online calendar or write it up in your family planner. Whatever works for you, as long as you schedule it, you are more likely to make it happen.”

 
5. Make mealtimes quality time: “One of the simplest and most effective ways to ensure regular family time is by having meals together. Whether it’s breakfast, dinner, or a weekend roast, sitting down to eat as a family is an opportunity to connect, talk, and find some enjoyment. You can talk about each other's day, lay a word game (e.g. “name one rose, one thorn, and one bud of your day” AKA: one good thing, one tricky thing, and one thing you look forward to for tomorrow) or share funny stories, focusing on each other more than the food you are eating is scientifically proven to help kids eat better and make the atmosphere at the table more enjoyable.”

For more inspiration on creating moments that matter, visit our Chocoland Hub.