Family life benefits from low-cost entertainment
20/02/2012
Households suffering from money worries can take some comfort from the fact that many of the most valued family activities cost very little.
A recent study by insurance company Aviva found that "old school" traditions, such as going for walks and reading bedtime stories, are at the heart of family life.
In fact, parents with young children spend an average of 100 minutes per week reading to their kids in the evening.
Aviva's head of protection and sales Louise Colley said the results of the survey were "heart-warming".
"The fast pace of modern life means that sometimes we take everyday things for granted, but it's really heart-warming to see that so many families still get a kick out of such basic things as going for a walk or watching a film together," she said.
However, many parents still spend a substantial amount of money on their offspring.
On average, mums and dads fork out £82 per child on birthday presents and one in 20 families spend £250 or more.
According to a report by LV= insurance, the total cost of raising a child "from cradle to college" is around £218,000.
Posted by Fiona Tench
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