Parents have admitted they would rather take out the bins and go food shopping than do the run because it causes so much stress
A survey of 1,000 parents with school-aged children revealed that the most stressful part of the morning often aligns with kids refusing breakfast and causing chaos at home. Fifteen per cent of parents said they feel the strain when their child can’t find their shoes, and for 21 per cent, getting their little ones into their uniforms is often a peak stressor.
As a result 42 per cent of parents confess to a sense of relief when their kids are inside the school gates. However, they too often realise they have skipped breakfast or missed out on their morning cuppa.
Commissioned by Siemens Home Appliances, which has introduced a Formula 1-inspired Coffee Pit Stop for parents post-school run, the research pinpointed 7:16am as the time when parental stress hits its peak.
A spokesperson for the brand said: “School run mornings are hectic and stressful for so many parents, as our research clearly shows. The rush to get kids ready, out the door, and on with their day can leave parents feeling overwhelmed and drained.”
The study found that nearly three-quarters of parents find the school run taxing, with 11 per cent confessing they would prefer being on hold with their energy provider instead. Meanwhile, 33 per cent would prefer to be food shopping, and 28 per cent would rather take the bins out.
Four in ten parents cited coffee as an essential element of their routine, with nine per cent of parents reaching for their caffeine fix before the early hour of 6:29am. Yet, 32 per cent admitted their hot drinks often get forgotten about.
Once the school run is complete, the stress often doesn’t stop as 28 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, said they have forgotten their work stuff after dropping them off. Some even they still had their slippers or pyjamas on.
The spokesperson for Siemens Home Appliances, which has launched its new EQ700 coffee machine, added: “We understand how challenging this daily routine can be, and we know how important that simple moment of enjoying a hot coffee can be to help parents recharge and feel ready to tackle whatever comes next.
“That’s why we created the Coffee Pit Stop – to offer a small but meaningful way to support parents and bring a bit of calm and comfort to their busy mornings.”
TOP 20 THINGS THAT MAKE THE SCHOOL RUN STRESSFUL:
- Children take forever to do simple tasks
- Children aren’t ready on time
- It is always a last-minute rush
- Convincing children to brush their teeth
- Having to run back inside for one more thing, numerous times
- It is hard to get you all ready on time
- Struggling to get them out of bed
- Convincing children to put their uniform on
- They always forget things
- Meltdowns over the smallest of inconveniences
- Spilling food on a clean uniform
- Having multiple children to get ready
- Getting myself ready
- Children not listening to me
- Making sure the children have clean uniforms to wear
- Children won’t eat their breakfast
- Rain starting just as you step out of the front door
- Realising you have left their lunchbox at home
- Trying to find your children’s uniform/shoes
- Catching your children when they are running around the house
