A Recent Survey Shows Squeezed Morning Routines Leave More Parents Feeling Like Traffic Cops

LAKELAND, Fla., Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's hectic schedules leave Americans with more to do in less time, which creates a balancing act for many families, particularly in the morning. According to a new survey, most parents identify with the role of personal assistant or traffic cop in the morning.(1) In fact, more than one-third of those surveyed avoid morning disagreements by letting their children tune out to a TV, computer, cell phone or video game. However, it is clear that parents want this pattern to change. Two out of five respondents would go as far as to give up TV for an entire month or stay an hour later at work once a week in exchange for a year of peaceful mornings.  

There's no doubt American families continue to feel the morning squeeze. While 75 percent of respondents agree mornings are an important part of the day to spend quality time with their children, few realize that it is really about making your interactions more meaningful – not spending more time.  

Better Mornings, Better Days

"Mornings can be one of the busiest times for families, but a happy, healthy start can set the tone for the day ahead," said Dr. Michele Borba, internationally-renowned family educator and author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions. "By taking a brief moment to connect over regular activities, like the short time it takes to drink a glass of orange juice with a healthy breakfast, parents can help their family get a good start on the emotional and physical fuel they need to make each day a great day."

Borba suggests making simple changes to families' routines to make the most of their interactions. For example, she recommends parents designate "unplugged time" during the morning routine, without turning on the television or e-mail. Families can start with 10 minutes and build on this until it becomes a common part of their morning. She also suggests that parents announce their intentions to their kids, whether it be giving up work e-mail in the morning or sitting down for breakfast, so they are less likely to slip on their goals.

The Morning Squeeze Video Contest

To inspire families to make the most of their mornings, Florida orange juice has teamed up with celebrity mom and entertainment journalist Nancy O'Dell, who offers a glimpse into the situations her family faces through a series of behind-the-scenes videos on the Florida Orange Juice Facebook page. To show the importance of making daily connections with your family, Nancy is working with Florida orange juice to launch The Morning Squeeze video contest, which encourages parents to submit a video of their own morning challenges for a chance to win a family getaway to Florida.  

"I understand how challenging it can be to find family time when faced with such hectic schedules," said Nancy O'Dell. "That's why I am partnering with 100 percent Florida orange juice to show parents across the country how a meaningful interaction, no matter how brief, can make a huge impact on everyone's day."

To challenge your family to a more meaningful morning and learn more about The Morning Squeeze video contest, visit www.FloridaJuice.com/Morning_Squeeze.php or the Florida Orange Juice Facebook page.

Steps to Refresh Mornings

Florida orange juice reminds American families that morning interactions can have lasting effects on their relationships, health and day. Drinking a glass of nutrient-rich 100 percent orange juice together as part of a healthy breakfast is an easy way for parents to connect with their kids and get their day started on the right nutritional foot. Research suggests that children and adolescents who consume 100 percent juice have higher intakes of key nutrients and consume more whole fruit compared to non-juice drinkers.(2) Many people find it difficult to meet the daily recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake, and just one 8-ounce glass of 100 percent Florida orange juice counts as almost 25 percent of your USDA-recommended daily fruit and vegetable servings, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.  

About Nancy O'Dell

Nancy O'Dell is one of the country's most respected entertainment journalists and is best known as the longtime co-anchor of "Access Hollywood." She is the author of two books: Full of Life, a book of tips for expectant mothers and her newest release, and Full of Love, which is written in conjunction with Creative Memories to explore the power of photo albums in raising confident, happy kids.

Through her Album of Hope Initiative, Nancy O'Dell encourages all parents to find time to spend together as a family and create albums that will help them share their dreams, love and support with their kids in these tough times.

For more information, visit www.creativememories.com.

About Dr. Michele Borba

Michele Borba, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned educator, award-winning author, parenting, child and adolescent expert. She is recognized for her practical, solution-based strategies to strengthen children's behavior, character, and social development. She offers realistic, research-based advice to build strong families and has worked with more than one million parents and educators worldwide.

Her numerous awards include the National Educator Award (presented by the National Council of Self-Esteem), and she has served as a consultant for the Center Resource Group for Character Education and Civic Engagement for the U.S. Department of Education.

For more information, visit www.micheleborba.com.

About the Florida Department of Citrus

The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs nearly 76,000 people, provides an annual economic impact close to $9 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida's schools, roads and health care services. For more information about the Florida Department of Citrus, please visit www.floridajuice.com.  

The Florida Department of Citrus is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Agency. The Florida Department of Citrus prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)  

(1) The survey was based on a national sample of 1,076 U.S. parents ages 25 to 54. Interviews were conducted online during a five-day period starting October 8, 2010 by Richard Day Research for the Florida Department of Citrus. The margin of error for a random sample of this size is +/-3 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. The sample was weighted to ensure its composition reflects the age, geographic region, number of children, age of children, race, marital status, employment, and household income of the population.

(2) Nicklas T, et al. Association between 100% juice consumption and nutrient intake and weight of children aged 2 to 11 years. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(6):557-565. June 12, 2008 Research Brief. Brief.

SOURCE Florida Department of Citrus