Parents have 2,000 rows with their kids every YEAR – and here’s what we argue most about

PARENTS will have 2,184 arguments with their children every year – and more than half of those are about food and drink, a study has found.

Researchers who polled 2,000 parents of children aged 2-12 revealed many find themselves falling out with their offspring about what they want to do, eat or drink on a daily basis.

As a result, each day in the average household will see families disagreeing six times – a total of 42 rows a week or 182 a month.

Children not eating everything on their plate is the most common cause of arguments, followed by untidy bedrooms and youngsters complaining about being hungry but then turning their nose up at anything ‘healthy’.

But it also emerged parents will only ‘win’ just over half of the rows, with six in 10 mums and dads admitting they often end up compromising to keep the peace.

A spokesman for Capri-Sun, which commissioned the research, said: “Many parents believe that reaching a compromise with their children is the best way to keep everyone happy.

“With the majority of household rows being about food and drink, mums and dads have the tricky task of settling a fight while still keeping the upper hand.

“Feedback from parents led us to update the recipe for our Original range to be one the whole family can agree on; a treat that kids love and parents can feel good about.”

The study found children leaving food on their plate at mealtimes is the most common cause of arguments between parents and their offspring, followed by untidy bedrooms and demands for unhealthy snacks when they are feeling hungry.

Youngsters complaining of being full despite barely touching the food in front of them, and siblings fighting completed the top five.

Children tucking into sweets and chocolate before meals, delaying bedtime and trying to get them to sit down to do their homework are other common disagreements while gadget use and teeth brushing also made the top 10.

Parents wanting children to drink more water, kids wanting something to drink too close to bedtime and what to watch on TV are common themes of rows in the nation’s homes.

It also emerged the average family argument will last just over eight minutes, meaning 49 minutes a day is spent at loggerheads.

But the average parent will win just 53 per cent of the rows with their children, leading to them compromising an average of five times a day.

In fact, mums and dads can expect to spend 16 minutes a day negotiating with their children, with almost half making deals to get them to eat and drink what they want them to.

Almost nine in 10 offer their children a reward in return for doing as they are asked with extra time on their gadgets (22%), a reward chart (26%) or pocket money (23%) among the most common.

And 45 per cent of parents threaten to take away screen time as a punishment.

The study also found parents rely on a series of white lies to keep children in line, with nearly half telling their offspring to be on their best behaviour because ‘Father Christmas is watching them’.

Carrots will make you see in the dark', 'too much screen time will give you square eyes' and 'telling lies will cause your nose to grow' are also among the fibs told by parents.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.