By SWNS Staff
NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO + INFOGRAPHIC
Parents are getting in an extra six more hours of quality time with their kids because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research.
Seventy-eight percent say the isolation period has allowed them to get to know their children better, with another 78% saying they’ve used these strange times to bond more with them.
The survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of BJ’s Wholesale Club, shined a light on how families are staying closely-knit during the pandemic.
Over half of parents polled say they’ve ramped up game nights with the family, with over four in ten saying they’ve taken this time to show their kids their own favorite movies and TV shows.
One in three taught them a hobby with all the free time, and 39% have let them help out around the kitchen.
And kitchen help has been quite needed, it turns out, as the large majority of parents polled say their cooking efforts have been ramped up since isolation began.
Compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak, parents say they now spend an extra four hours per week just cooking.
It has led to some experimentation, too — as 61% say they’ve been focusing on trying new recipes they’ve never tried before, with the average respondent taking a stab at three new recipes already.
Cooking has become such a major focus lately that 51% say they’ve bought new cookware during the isolation period.
Three in four parents also say that mealtime is when they tend to bond with their kids the most, with families reportedly sitting down for two more meals per week together since the pandemic started.
Said Paul Cichocki, executive vice president, membership, analytics and business transformation, BJ’s Wholesale Club: “Being at home means we’re spending more time with our families, especially in the kitchen and around the dining table. At BJ’s, we help our members keep their families and refrigerators full with affordable family-sized packs of fresh food and groceries.”
Cooking at home more means getting groceries more and the survey also found some insight into how that’s been impacted by COVID-19.
Said Paul Cichocki, executive vice president, membership, analytics and business transformation, BJ’s Wholesale Club: “Now more than ever, we’re all answering the constant, daily question of ‘What’s for dinner?’ That’s why we offer convenient shopping services such as grocery delivery and buy online, pick up in-club so members can shop however they want, while saving time and money.”
TOP 10 WAYS PARENTS HAVE BONDED WITH KIDS DURING COVID-19
Played games with them 52%
Showed them some of my favorite movies 45%
Showed them some of my favorite TV shows 41%
Let them help in the kitchen 39%
Listening to them more 37%
Play with them more 37%
Showed them some of my favorite video games 36%
Read a book together 35%
Showed them some of my favorite music 34%
Taught them my hobby 31%
