Britain has become a nation of ‘kidults’ - adults obsessed with childish pastimes such as playing computer games and spending hours on Facebook. Researchers found that 57% of the population admit they are 'immature' and would rather partake in hobbies more commonly associated with the younger generation and their own children.
Indeed, British adults would think nothing of spending hours colouring in, playing with Lego and watching kid’s TV.
Instead of setting an example to their children, parents are just as likely to use slang, will listen to their music too loudly and pass the time playing with games and puzzles.
Jessica Noon, a spokesperson for Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, which conducted the study of 2,000 adults said:
“We really are a nation of big kids at heart and like nothing more than messing about with our children’s toys and games.
“Having children gives you a great excuse to do this and join in with hobbies which might have been deemed too ‘immature’ and ‘childish’ otherwise.
“Although it may seem bizarre that a fully grown adult might enjoy sitting down to colour in a picture, or build a model out of cardboard, these types of activities can be fun for all ages.
“And what better way to have a break from being a grown up, than to play games which remind us of being young and carefree.”
The study shows nearly half of all adults can’t get enough of television shows, watching box sets on repeat and for hours on end.
Nearly half of people polled (47%) admit to owning a cuddly toy, while the same number still own toys they enjoyed during childhood.
Although most adults won’t own an actual colouring book, six in 10 confess to doodling or drawing on paper and packets at every given opportunity.
Children’s television proves to be addictive viewing for many adults – even those who don’t have children enjoy tuning into the younger channels or watching children’s films at the cinema.
Despite six in 10 people claiming they do consider themselves to be proper sensible grown ups, 44% frequently use ‘text speak’ such as ‘lol’ or ‘gr8’ when communicating with other adults, and a quarter of those polled would rather stay in and carry out more ‘childish’ tasks like watching an animation or doing a drawing than going to the pub or out clubbing.
A third of British adults even say they have been ‘told off’ by someone in the last six months, which made them feel more childish than ever.
Unsurprisingly, a fifth of adults claim they feel like they’re just pretending to be an adult, while four in 10 confess they are big kids at heart.
Jessica Noon continued:
“The world we live in day to day can sometimes be very serious and we can end up being a bit too grown up for our own good.
“Finding ways to break free of that when we can is important and joining in with our kids or remembering the childhood things that shaped us are great ways of doing that.
“The willingness to jump back into their childhood not only gives parents more ways to bond with their kids, but offers a welcome relief from the stresses that come from being a grown up.”
TOP 20 SIGNS OF A ‘KIDULT’
- Spends hours surfing the net
- Turns music up too loudly
- Pops bubblewrap
- Plays videogames
- Watches cartoons
- Plays computer games online
- Watches children’s TV shows
- Enjoys playing board games
- Uses slang when talking
- Enjoys colouring in
- Enjoys doing puzzles and jigsaws
- Plays with younger siblings / children’s toys
- Tease others about who they fancy
- Plays with Lego at every given opportunity
- Blows bubbles in drinks through a straw
- Reads comics
- Climbs trees
- Builds models
- Plays Scaletrix
- Builds a fort /den
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