Top 20 'gross' things parents do, according to children

Getting kissed at the school gates, holding hands and being told off in public are just some of the 'gross' things parents do – according to our kids.

A study of 1,300 children aged six to 13 has revealed a list of the top 20 things they hate their parents doing.

Wiping food of their face in front of friends, seeing their parents snog and getting called a pet name also feature highly on the list.

While many kids cringe when their parents share embarrassing photos of them on social networking sites, or tell baby stories to friends and family.

Kids also hate it when parents gross them out by talking about toilet habits, or when mum or dad picks their nose for them rather than handing them a tissue.

'Families have great fun grossing each other out and being gross is universally funny'

A spokesman for kids’ gross-out animated comedy series Scream Street, which commissioned the study to mark the launch of the show’s new episodes on CBBC, said: "This study clearly shows that UK families have great fun grossing each other out, and that no matter your age, parent or child, being gross is universally funny."

The study shows children feel completely grossed out when their parents eat disgusting food such as sushi, vegetables or oysters. They also hate it when mum or dad insist on playing awful music when their friends are round, and when they wear unfashionable clothing.

Children also complain when their folks try to say cool phrases, choose them ‘uncool’ clothes to wear or get out baby pictures in front of others.

Two thirds of children claim to find their parents embarrassing, and a third wish their mum and dad would try harder to be less gross.

Dad wins the vote for being the most embarrassing parent but the research also reveals the way in which children get their own backs – deliberately behaving disgustingly to get their own back on their gross parents.

Refusing to flush the toilet, keeping an untidy bedroom and wiping their nose on their sleeve rather than getting a tissue are the top three ways children know they can gross out their parents. Saving chewing gum for later, telling disgusting jokes and chewing their own hair are amongst other unpleasant ways kids like to upset their parents.

A spokesman for Scream Street continues: “Gross-out humour and silly antics will always be hilarious and it’s great to find out how much fun the UK’s families are having together – especially when they’re grossing each other out.”

TOP 20 WAYS PARENTS GROSS OUT KIDS

1. Kissing them at the school gates or in public
2. Telling them off in public
3. Wiping food off their face
4. Hold their hand
5. Sharing embarrassing photos of them
6. Farting in public
7. Telling embarrassing jokes
8. Snogging
9. Calling them a pet name
10. Playing embarrassing music

11. Telling baby stories about them
12. Trying to say cool phrases
13. Drinking wine/beer
14. Choosing them ‘uncool’ clothes to wear
15. Talking about toilet habits
16. Picking them nose for them
17. Eating horrible food such as oysters, sushi and vegetables
18. Spending hours on the toilet
19. Dressing unfashionably
20. Showing off their baby pictures

TOP 20 WAYS CHILDREN GROSS OUT THEIR PARENTS

1. Refusing to flush the toilet
2. Untidy bedroom
3. Wiping their nose on their sleeve
4. Not washing their hands
5. Leaving dirty socks and washing on the floor
6. Not brushing their teeth
7. Eating with the mouth open
8. Spilling drinks and making a mess
9. Whining
10. Wearing the same clothes over and over again

11. Playing with their food
12. Spitting out food they don’t like
13. Yelling
14. Eating stuff off the floor
15. Chewing their hair
16. Playing with chewing gum
17. Getting covered in mud and dirt
18. Getting covered in food
19. Saving chewing gum for later
20. Telling gross jokes