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12th Apr 2017

These are the 50 secrets to COMPLETE domestic bliss, apparently

Katie Mythen-Lynch

It’s the Holy Grail of parenting: how to run a happy, healthy, harmonious household without losing your mind in the process.

Now a new study has revealed the key to domestic bliss involves banning mobiles from the dinner table, family nicknames, two bathrooms – oh, and good WiFi.

A poll of 2,000 parents, commissioned by Hollywood Bowl, has revealed the formula to a happy family life includes at least 12 hours of quality family time a week and two holidays each year.

Getting out of the house as a family, enough bedrooms so that no-one has to share and regular date nights for mum and dad (without the kids) are also important.

A sofa big enough for everyone to sit on, regular family film nights and taking part in a fun family activity together are also key to a happy home.

 

 

But while nearly eight in 10 families say they manage to achieve some family bliss, only 15 per cent would say they are doing so on a regular basis.

The answer? Try to incorporate as much of these as possible into your daily life (or at least as many as you can afford!).

 

TOP 50 SECRETS TO DOMESTIC BLISS

  1. Always eating evening meals together as a family
  2. Family movie nights at the cinema
  3. Regular hugs/affection in the family
  4. Getting out of the house as a family
  5. Regular holidays
  6. The occasional meal out as a family
  7. Quality time together as a family on a week night after school/work
  8. Banning phones/tablets at the dinner table
  9. Good/fast Wi-Fi
  10. A Sunday dinner together as a family
  11. Knowing when someone in the family needs their own space
  12. One-on-one time with each of the children
  13. At least two bathrooms
  14. Cooking a meal together/with the family
  15. Not rowing in front of the child/children
  16. No secrets in the family
  17. A regular family film night at home
  18. A sofa big enough for everyone in the family to sit on
  19. A cat or dog
  20. A second/spare TV
  21. Regular date nights for Mum and Dad without the children
  22. Enough bedrooms that everyone in the family can have their own
  23. A weekly/monthly takeaway treat
  24. A space in the home to go when you need time to yourself
  25. A large kitchen
  26. Grandparents/other family living nearby
  27. A dishwasher
  28. A spare room
  29. A large TV in the front room
  30. Always having a fun activity planned as a family for the weekend, such as bowling
  31. A tumble drier
  32. A family board game night
  33. A lock on the bathroom door/s
  34. At least one iPad/tablet
  35. A cupboard topped up with treats
  36. A Netflix account
  37. Catch up TV
  38. Equal pocket money for the child/all the children
  39. More than one car
  40. Recordable TV
  41. Family nicknames
  42. A kids’ play room
  43. The child/children each having their own TV and games console in their rooms
  44. A shared taste in music
  45. A cleaning rota
  46. An Xbox
  47. An evening/period of time where you ban all use of phones/gadgets etc
  48. A man cave for Dad
  49. Multiscreen/subscription services in different rooms of the house
  50. All of the family supporting the same sports team