WITH summer holidays in full swing new research reveals NI parents could spend an average of £517.99 per child on sightseeing during the holidays – just trying to keep their kids entertained.
But forget fancy castles and pricey attractions, research shows it’s the extra ordinary things that kids love to look at, with 58 per cent of parents saying their children experience as much wonder on a free walk in the woods as they do on an expensive trip or activity. But around one-in-five children under-10 have a sight condition that could affect their vision, meaning many may be missing this everyday magic altogether.
But when kids have good sight, parents can be tight. Teaming up with wildlife enthusiast and TV presenter, 11-year-old Aneeshwar Kunchala, Specsavers has curated a crowdsourced map from parents of the top free sights around the UK, available on Tightseeing.com.
The map includes “18 bollards” in Royal Hillsborough, alongside a “Quite Tall Pointy Rock” in Bristol, “A Very Mossy Wall” in Yorkshire and “Five Big Ole Logs” in North London, helping parents keep their kids entertained without needing to exit through an expensive gift shop.
The survey from Specsavers reveals 55 per cent of parents of children aged four to eight in Northern Ireland feel pressure to take their kids to see amazing sights during summer holidays. Seventy per cent of those surveyed also foresee this being more expensive this year compared to last, and 55 per cent are expecting to feel financially stretched as a result.
On average parents in NI have wasted £285.88 on trips out their children didn’t even enjoy, leaving many feeling disappointed, annoyed and motivated to try something different.
Rather than splashing out on pricey sightseeing days out, data shows children find the most wonder in nature, technology and animals.
Acting as ‘chief tour guide’ at a Specsavers Tightseeing Kiosk in London, TV adventurer Aneeshwar Kunchala enthusiastically promoted free local sights, while Specsavers optometrists carried out on-site eye screeners.
Aneeshwar Kunchala said: "Nature, it’s my favourite sight. If it's a tree that looks like a stick man or a stump that looks like a drum set (as I like to call it, a stump-set) or anything in between, children can find wonder in everyday things. That's why getting their eyes tested is so important. Take them Tightseeing, it’s free and I know kids will enjoy it!"
Specsavers is reminding parents that a free eye test for children isn’t just about protecting their child’s vision and eye health, it could also save them hundreds of pounds a year, by helping kids spot the free everyday wonders around them instead of splashing out on pricey days out. However around 10 per cent of children in NI haven’t had an eye test in the recommended two years and three per cent have never had one.
Twenty per cent of parents surveyed have put off getting their child's eyes tested simply because their child hadn’t complained about their vision. Seventy-five per cent of parents surveyed said they'd question their child's eyesight if they stopped pointing out the everyday wonders they usually find fascinating – a telling sign that parents instinctively connect wonder with healthy vision.
Matthew McKenny, Ophthalmic director from Specsavers Park Centre, commented: "We know parents are feeling financially stretched so we want to remind them that children’s eye tests and glasses are free. You’ll be doing the best thing for their vision and eye health by helping them better spot everyday wonders around them, while also saving hundreds of pounds on often expensive sightseeing days out.
“It's not always easy to spot vision problems in children – a lack of interest in the everyday things they usually find fascinating can be a good clue. That’s why we recommend regular eye tests for children, even if nothing seems wrong.”
Discover the UK's best free sights at tightseeing.com.
