'Busy' dads spend 'less than an hour a day' with sons

London, Mar 30 (ANI): Fathers of young boys are able to spend even less than an hour a day with their sons, a new survey has found.

Many hard-working dads simply rely on phone calls or texts to keep in touch, according to research into father and son bonding carried out by toy manufacturer Bandai.

Almost all those with sons aged between five and 10 say they regret not spending enough "quality time" together, such as playing football or bike riding, the Daily Express reported.

48 per cent dads blame their long and exhausting working hours, with 35 per cent saying work encroached into their weekends. As a result, men typically spend just 56 minutes a day together with their young sons, even taking into account Saturdays and Sundays.

Alarmingly, nearly a fifth revealed that they are able to manage only 15 minutes each day.

"It's worrying as bonding time is vital, according to parenting experts. Some boys never get to see their dad during the week. A few moments on the phone is no substitute for face-to-face time," said Bandai. (ANI)