According to new data revealed by O2, parents say quizzes have helped to bring them closer as a family as households vote them one of the top forms of entertainment during lockdown .
Following the successful launch of the Parents vs Kids quiz in 2018, O2 and the NSPCC are launching the first ever mass Parents vs Kids live-stream quiz. The quiz, designed to encourage family conversations about online safety, will take place at 4pm on Saturday 30th May, when the nation’s parents take on their children to see who comes out on top.
The findings, revealed by O2 in a poll of 1000 UK-based parents (of children aged 4-16), discovered that just over 3 in 10 parents (31%) admit that quizzes have helped them to engage more with their children during lockdown, while over a quarter (27%) said quizzes have helped to spark important conversations within the household.
The sense of competition was named by parents as the key way to create conversation as kids look to show off their superior knowledge. While parents are taking a more relaxed approach, kids are out to win, with 16% admitting that they are usually beaten by their children. Over a quarter (28%) of parents say they’re best at general knowledge, but surprisingly their children are putting them to shame on music questions.
Tracey Herald, Head of Partnerships and Social Impact at O2 said: “During lockdown, children are spending more time online than ever before, so it’s important that parents feel equipped to help their children safely navigate it too. We know that sometimes it can be difficult to start conversations about online safety – the quiz provides a perfect way to have some family fun while learning about the online world together. Up to 1000 households can take part in the quiz – so it’s a great way for parents and kids to test their knowledge and compete with other families across the UK.”
In between home-schooling and daily exercise, parents surveyed said that they are still managing to fit in an average of two quizzes per week with their kids, while over two-thirds have said watching TV and films (64%) rank as popular choices of entertainment for the whole family and over a third (36%) said the same for puzzles and board games.
Laura Randall, Head of Strategy at the NSPCC said: “At the NSPCC we know how important open conversations about online safety are, particularly at this challenging time for families. We launched the Parents vs Kids quiz in partnership with O2 to encourage families to get together and take part in something fun that would spark conversations about the online world.”
“We hope the live-stream quiz on 30th May will provide a great way to get families across the nation together and give parents the opportunity to have some valuable discussions with their children. Our Net Aware resource in partnership with O2 is always there as a valuable resource, providing advice on the latest apps, games and social sites children are using.”
Parents Vs Kids: which categories do each excel in?
Child genius quiz categories:
Celebrities / pop culture | 15% |
Music | 14% |
Film/TV | 13% |
General knowledge | 12% |
Social media | 11% |
Categories suited to the parent’s brain:
General Knowledge | 28% |
Sports | 13% |
Film/TV | 12% |
Music | 11% |
In addition to online quizzes, parents have been turning to other online platforms, with over half (53%) of parents admitting that they have experimented with Tik Tok and other apps or games to spend more shared online time with their children.
Parents vs Kids Event Information
What is it? A family friendly, live quiz designed to encourage conversations between kids and their parents around online safety
Location: From the comfort of your home or garden!
Date: Saturday 30 May
Timings: 4pm
Register: Sign-up for free here
For those who want to practice their knowledge prior to the live quiz, the popular Parents Vs Kids quiz by O2 and NSPCC, that has inspired our live event on Saturday 30th, can be enjoyed at any time: http://www.o2.co.uk/help/nspcc/parents-vs-kids/play
Further information on the latest apps, games and social sites children are using, as well as guidance on how to keep them safe online can be found at: http://www.net-aware.org.uk/
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Editor’s Notes
O2 is working with the NSPCC to educate parents and help them feel more confident about talking to their child about their online activity so they can enjoy the online world safely. They have developed a range of free online resources available on the O2 NSPCC Hub, including Net Aware which explains the social networks, apps or games their children use most frequently. Parents can also access personalised advice and support about family online safety via the free O2 NSPCC advice line, which is open five days a week (0808 800 5002).The resources are available to everyone, both O2 customers and non-O2 customers.
Parents vs Kids: http://www.o2.co.uk/help/nspcc/parents-vs-kids/play
A robust sample of 1,000 adults with children aged between 4-16 were surveyed in May 2020.