By Emma Elsworthy Modern kids consider Little Mix, Lionel Messi and Harry Potter ‘heroes’ – but mum tops the list. A study carried out among six to 13-year-olds placed a string of celebrities and sporting legends in the top 50. But even Barcelona and Argentina ace Messi, considered the greatest footballer ever, wasn’t able to replace mum at …

– WITH VIDEO By Richard Jenkins Too many selfies, ranting about politics and ‘Liking’ your own profile picture have been named among the top 25 social media sins, according to research. A poll of 2,000 phone-mad Brits also found four in ten get wound up by cryptic, attention-seeking status updates designed to elicit sympathy from friends and family. …

By Gemma Francis The average adult spends two hours and 11 minutes EVERY DAY feeling stressed – the equivalent of five-and-a-half years over the course of a lifetime, a study has found. Researchers found heavy work-loads, financial worries, health problems and family dramas means the average adult spends the equivalent of more than 15 hours a week feeling …

By Emma Elsworthy Children as young as three are hindering their emotional intelligence by spending too long staring at screens instead of socialising with other youngsters, it has emerged. Studies have shown children need to spend time with each other to learn to share, communicate effectively with their peers and develop their emotions. But the boom in ownership …

Rod Marsh’s one liner “so how’s your wife and my kids” has been voted the best cricket sledge of all time. The former Australian wicketkeeper used the sledge to intimidate alpha-male Botham in the 1986-87 Ashes test, which England won 2-1. He is said to have asked Botham: “How’s your wife and my kids?”, to which Botham replied: …

By Grant Bailey Parents beware – the average child will utter their first ‘I’m bored …’ just TEN DAYS into the summer holidays. Researchers who carried out a detailed study found while the majority of the nation’s school children are longing for the six-week break to begin, they will soon ‘run out of things to do’. Even more …

By Astrid Hall Laughing at ourselves, the fact EVERYONE speaks our language, and apologising even when it’s not our fault, are among the top 50 things we love about being British, according to research. A belief we are the best at in the world at queueing, while our proud obsession with talking about the weather and our love …

– WITH INFOGRAPHICS Grandparents are now the UK’s number one suppliers of childcare, according to new research. Cash-strapped mums and dads of youngsters aged 13 and under spend an average of £89.50 a week on care – almost £4,500 a year and the equivalent to a SIXTH of the average salary. In fact, one in 10 stated that …

– with infographic By Gemma Francis Half the population reckon they are time poor, with eating dinner late at night and buying ready-peeled vegetables among the signs you are too busy, a study has found. A poll of 2,000 adults found ordering takeaways because you don’t have time to cook the biggest indicator you need more hours in …

British parents only spend 44 minutes a day talking to their children, according to new research. The findings emerged in a study of 2,000 parents of kids aged four to 16, which shows that despite spending more than eight hours a day together, families chat for less than 10 per cent of that time. Conversations between mums and …