No time to teach children to tell the time! Or ride a bike, or tie their shoelaces … stressed parents spend spare time doing chores

PUBLISHED: 08:55 EST, 16 November 2012 | UPDATED: 08:56 EST, 16 November 2012

Working parents now say they are too busy to properly teach their children important skills such as telling the time, tying their shoelaces and riding a bike.

While half insist they would love to supplement the teaching done in school and by childminders, research found they struggle to find enough time.

Three in five working parents complain they are too tired to show their children how to brush their teeth, read and safely cross the road.

Many parents blame their long working hours from stopping them having time to teach their children skills

The study found that 55 per cent of them blame their tiredness on long working hours.

As a result, many of today’s young children are missing out on extra help with basic learning.

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Around six in 10 say doing the washing and cleaning takes priority over things such as teaching their youngsters to dress themselves and learn days of the week and months of the year.

In the study of 1,000 British parents, more than 70 per cent admit feeling under pressure to have a career, a nice house and ‘well-spoken and intelligent children’.

Skills parents most want to have time to teach their children

Reading - 73 per cent

Writing - 66 per cent

Learning to cross the road - 45 per cent

Learning to tell the time - 17 per cent

Riding a bike - 13 per cent

Tying shoe laces - 8 per cent

Learning to catch - 4 per cent

And two-thirds of parents (66 per cent) say they would love to spend more quality time with their kids.

The report released today by parenting website yano.co.uk, found the three skills parents most want their children to learn are reading, writing and learning to cross the road safely

Nearly half (47 per cent) say the work being done by teacher at school is, in itself, insufficient and so they are desperate to add to this.

But, more than a quarter of parents say they spend less than 20 minutes a night reading with their child.

Almost half admit this is insufficient and feel guilty about it.

Ann-Marie McKimm, founder of Yano, said: 'This study shows parents are time-poor, but most would relish the chance to spend more quality time teaching their kids these skills.

'We would encourage the government and employers to consider more flexible working practices for parents, not just in the first year of a baby’s life - but throughout their schooling years.

'We’re also keen to see schools and nurseries working together with parents to help nurture some of these vital life skills.

'The most important thing is to work together to produce happy and confident children.'

For the majority, doing the washing and cleaning takes priority over things such as teaching their youngsters to dress themselves

Naomi Richards, life coach for children and author of The Parent’s Toolkit, added: 'We live in a society where life has become very busy.

'Parents may no longer have the support of grandparents or aunts to help them out, so they try to do it all.

'Part of it is us having to work hard to provide for our families.

'But we also put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to have the perfect house, a good social life, an empty laundry basket and for our children to have play dates.

'As a result time with your children can be overlooked.

'As parents we want our children to be able to do things for themselves.

'If we put in the time they will be more independent and all children need the skills we’re talking about.

'Being able to do things for themselves will give children a healthy self-esteem.'

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I still think mothers (or fathers if preferred) should be allowed to stay at home with their little'ns rather than forcing both parents back to work. My job has recently relocated to the other side of London and now I spend a minimum of 3 hours a day extra on travelling alone. This is three hours I no longer get with my daughter, by the time I get her home its past her bedtime and I hate it. I know it's a minefield and very anti feminist but I would love to go back to the old days where the woman stayed at home and raised her kids. Then reports like this wouldn't exist and children would learn the basics which can only be taught by a loving and present parent!

- Sam , Herts, 17/11/2012 08:49

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my nanna used to tell me that when I had children, it was my responsibility to stay at home and teach them right from wrong and basic skills until they go to school, and even then, why would you not want your children to know simple things?

- Tilly , Burton, 17/11/2012 08:47

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Working too hard is a myth; it's a matter of simple priorities do you want a new games console and a bottle of wine or do you want your children to grow up as decent human beings? The answer is found easily in the feral children and teenage thugs that inhabit Britain's streets.

- Agent Smith , S.Yorks, United Kingdom, 17/11/2012 08:31

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Sorry to post twice, but I must say this .... My mum is 106 and I have just thanked her - again. I told her the other day that as I do things in the house, I realise that SHE taught me most of this things I need to do to live properly. I asked her how she managed to wash sheets and blankets by hand when she was nearly 80 (she wouldn't have a washing machine) ..... all she said was 'you just get on with it'. How glad I am that my mother spent her time bringing up the family. I'll never be the woman she is, but I know I'M WHAT SHE'S DONE WITHOUT. How I wish I could win something on the lottery and make her life so much more comfortable for her last while on this planet ,,,, Oh how I wish! WHY has it taken so long to recognise her worth?

- E. Nuff , Lancashire, United Kingdom, 17/11/2012 08:20

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Teaching is insufficient! I wonder why. Could it possibly be that we are having to teach children the basics that parents should have already instilled in them. Welcome to broken Britain.

- hmmm , Doncaster, 17/11/2012 08:11

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My husband and I both work full time but still have time to read to our toddler. He knows how to brush his teeth and how to put his coat and shoes on because we spend time teaching him. I hate articles like this that generalise and demonise working parents. Sure it's hard, but its about prioritising and time management. Perhaps the fact we don't have a TV in our house helps?

- working mum , uk, 17/11/2012 08:10

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some of my favourite years as a child were spent at home with my mother..its something i will always remember with great fondness and at 32 years of age feel i still have a bond with her because of that time spent together when i was so young and thought she was my world.

- Mrs You Know Who , Dublin, 17/11/2012 08:08

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SELFISH, GREEDY and LAZY, LAZY, LAZY !!!

- maurice , UK, 17/11/2012 07:51

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If parents are too busy to teach their children any of the things mentioned, they are too busy to have children. Period!

- Formerly of London , Copenhagen, Denmark, 17/11/2012 07:39

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As a teacher myself, I am in complete agreement with Clare from Worcester. We see the results of poor parenting and having 'no time'. Teachers, as we try, cannot work miracles. Our work needs to be supported at home. I do believe that if today's parents (and not all) spent less time updating their Facebook status or being engrossed in the latest reality tv show and spent more time with their children it would make an incredible difference to the success of their child in school.

- Suicidal Brunette , Falkirk, United Kingdom, 17/11/2012 07:38

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