Children using technology on holiday could be distracted from quality family time, a new survey has revealed.

Parents surveyed in a recent poll by Villa Plus have revealed that technology dominates their children's holidays. Fifteen per cent of parents with children aged 18 or under who used IT devices on their last family holiday said, on average, their children used the technology for 3 hours or more every day.

Moreover, almost a quarter (22%) of respondents who've been on holiday with children said their kids usually used tablets on holiday, while over a third (35%) said they used smartphones, and more than a quarter (27%) stated they used games consoles.

Teenagers aged between 15 and 18 are particularly devoted technology users, the data shows, with 62 per cent of parents with kids in this age group revealing they use a smartphone while on holiday. Parents of 15 to 18 year olds were also most likely to have a child who uses a laptop whilst on holiday (21%).

Some parents were content for their kids to have unlimited use of technology during their stay, with more than one in ten (13%) stating that they were happy for their children to use IT devices as much as they wanted on their last family holiday.

Staying connected while on holiday wasn't the primary concern; the vast majority (63%) of respondents said the main reason their children used IT devices while on holiday was to keep themselves entertained. This was most common among parents with children aged between ten and 14, with almost three-quarters (73%) stating entertainment as their primary reason.

One in five parents with children aged between nought and four and 15 per cent of those with children aged between five and nine said their children used IT devices on holiday for educational purposes, which may include catching up on homework and extra-curricular education.

Simon Lifford, Head of Sales & UK Operations at Villa Plus, commented on the trend of using technology on holiday: "For some families, discouraging children from using games consoles, smartphones and the like too often is an important concern while on holiday, and I can see why families who have spent any amount on getting away may be disappointed that their children wish to do so.

"However, staying in an inspiring space with plenty of room to enjoy family activities is sure to make it easier to give children other ways to fill their time. Villa accommodation typically includes a private pool, BBQ and pool table, so kids may not feel they want to use their gadgets as often as they would when confined to a single hotel room."

Simon Lifford continued: "Of course, some families embrace devices that allow children to stay connected, both to friends and information, and they view games consoles as a valuable means of family bonding. In holiday accommodation with several rooms and fun facilities, families will have the space to use the technology they want with the opportunity to mix things up with some outdoor activities and traditional family activities, too."

ENDS

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,097 adults parents of children aged 18 or under. Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th - 29th July 2013. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

About Villa Plus

Villa Plus is an independent direct sell holiday company. We provide quality villas with private pools across Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Portugal. Many of our villas feature free wi-fi, for those who want to stay connected while on holiday. Over half of Villa Plus villas are within walking distance of the beach and we have more villas in central locations than any other UK tour operator.

 
For further information please contact: Heather Kipling heather.kipling@epiphanysolutions.co.uk