Vacations help families bond and act more affectionately

Many families today are over-scheduled and lacking in quality time – and though they may be doing things together often, they’re likely not making enough connections during these activities. Our survey by Disney Parks finds that millions of parents of 5-17-year-olds simply can’t find the hours to bond with their kids. And even when they are together, their interactions aren’t as meaningful as they could be. But when they take a break from daily life and go on vacation, moods improve, the amount of quality time grows, and everyone learns so much more about each other.

Our survey for Disney Parks found that 97 percent of parents say that their children have gotten to know new things about them while taking family trips. Fox News reports that our survey revealed that the whole family tends to be more excited, silly and affectionate while on vacation. Another benefit of taking a family trip? Parents reported eating nearly double the number of meals with their children while on vacation.

The study, which surveyed 1,000 parents with kids age 5-17, also showed that 71 percent of parents would love more time with their kids, and almost all respondents (96 percent) would give up at least one thing, such as sleeping, a hobby, even coffee, for a year to spend just one extra hour with their children.