UK grandparents see their grandchildren less than anywhere else, new research finds

Just 9% of UK grandparents see their grandchildren daily, while children say busy parents and screens are getting in the way of family time.

Grandfather cuddling with grandchildren on couch at home

Getty/MoMo Productions

Published: October 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM

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Family life in the UK could be facing growing pressure from busy schedules, technology and the demands of modern life, new global research suggests.

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Just 9% of UK grandparents say they see their grandchildren every day, the lowest proportion among the 15 countries surveyed. Meanwhile, almost six in 10 children say their parents are sometimes or definitely too busy to spend time with them.

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The findings come from Family First, a new global initiative from the Varkey Foundation, following a survey of more than 18,000 children, parents, grandparents and Gen Z participants around the world.

UK grandparents see their grandchildren least often

The research found that just 9% of UK grandparents see their grandchildren daily, compared with a global average of 33%.

That compares with 10% in Australia, 12% in Sweden and 14% in Canada. In Malaysia, India and China, more than half of grandparents surveyed said they see their grandchildren every day, at 68%, 65% and 54% respectively.

Weekly contact between generations also appears relatively limited in the UK. Just 49% of UK parents said they spend time with their own parents at least once a week, putting the UK among the countries with the lowest figures.

Just 9% of UK grandparents see their grandchildren daily.

Children say busy parents are affecting family time

The study also looked at how children experience family life. More than half of UK children, 51%, said they have felt like a burden to their parents, whether rarely, sometimes, often or all the time.

Meanwhile, 59% said their parents were either sometimes or definitely too busy to spend time with them.

Despite this, the research suggests parents remain an important source of support. Six in 10 UK children said they tell their parents every time they are being bullied, the third highest proportion among the countries surveyed.

Are screens getting in the way of family conversations?

Technology was another area where UK families reported challenges. Nearly two-thirds of children, 62%, said screens stop their family from talking properly at least sometimes.

A third, 33%, said screens have done more harm than good to family life.

There is a notable difference between parents and children when it comes to social media restrictions, too. Six in 10 UK parents said they support banning social media for under-16s, compared with 29% of children and 44% of Gen Z respondents.

However, UK parents were also among those most likely to say their family regularly spends time together without screens interfering, with 46% reporting this, the same proportion as in the US.

Gen Z feels less close to family

The research suggests feelings of family closeness may also change as children get older.

Half of Gen Z participants also said they feel like a burden to their parents sometimes, often or all the time.

Globally, 68% of school-age children said they are “very happy” with their family overall, compared with 51% of Gen Z respondents. Just 38% of Gen Z said they currently feel happy and close to their family, compared with 58% of younger children.

Half of Gen Z participants also said they feel like a burden to their parents sometimes, often or all the time, compared with 28% of school-age children.

There was also a difference in how noticed young people feel when they are struggling. Just 59% of Gen Z respondents said their parents always or often notice when they are upset or struggling, compared with 80% of younger children.

What the research says about modern family life

Only 46% of UK parents said societal systems, including work, school and technology, support family life. This was the fifth lowest figure among the countries surveyed.

Family First says its research is intended to explore the strength of relationships between children, parents and grandparents, and how families can remain connected across generations.

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The survey was carried out by research agency We Are Family in January and February 2026, speaking to 6,002 parents, 6,011 children aged 9-18, 3,000 grandparents of children aged 9-18 and 3,000 Gen Z participants across 15 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Sweden, the UAE, the UK and US.

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