Another positive finding is that teens and their parents appear to be talking and spending time together. They report spending an average of about 80 minutes per day talking to one another and eating an average of eight meals a week together. However, parents say they average over 80 minutes a day with all age groups. Although most families break bread together regularly, there are still a large number who cannot find the time for family meals.
Family time is tied with education for first place on the teens list of concerns.
Teens of all ages are concerned by the lack of quality time with their parents. A substantial percentage of parents and teenagers report that teens spend more of their free time watching television and using computers than they do interacting with their parents. Parents underestimate the time their teens spend in front of the television. Parents often say that they frequently monitor their teen s time in front of the TV and on the Internet, but their children don t agree. Many parents feel the time they spend with their teens is inadequate.