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"Marriage in 20s 'is a good idea'"

Men and women believe that getting married and settling down earlier in life is a good idea, a survey suggests.

Of the 1,000 adults questioned, 90% said the ideal age to have children was under 30 and 43% aspired to a lifelong commitment with one partner.

But 80% of those surveyed for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour said unhappily married couples should not stay together just for the sake of their children.

And 38% said the best way to care for a child was for the mother to stay home.

It also found 41% of women felt guilty about placing a pre-school child in childcare compared with 20% of men.

Dr Sarah Childs of the University of Bristol said: "The survey suggests that women are not prepared to settle for merely a 'good enough man'."

The survey has been split into four categories - sex and relationships; work; parenting and caring and domestic arrangements.

Dr Rosie Campbell, of Birkbeck College, has also analysed the survey.

She said: "Women are still doing more of the chores and childcare and they're looking for Mr Right, not Mister Will-Do."

Survey results

The results on sex and relationships found that 90% of men and women say that the ideal age to have children is under 30; 43% of men and women aspire to a lifelong commitment with one partner; 40% say that the ideal age of settling down is between 25 and 27 years old, and 33% say it is as young as between 21 and 24.

The results on work, lifestyle and parenting found that 38% of men and women felt that a mother at home is the ideal way in which to care for pre-school children, as opposed to only 0.3% for a father staying at home as the childcarer.

When it came to housework, 45% of women and 57% of men reported sharing household chores equally.

The survey's results will be analysed and discussed on the radio programme throughout the week.

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So when is a good age to get married and have kids? 90% think it's ideal to have kids under 30? Oh dear I better not show my girlfriend this :S But I'd have to agree aswell. Getting married in your 20ies, sure great as long as you don't rush into it.

I agree that a mother should be at home to take care of pre-school children. I think it's best for them both, though I'd like fathers to have a more active role in the childcare too. Do fathers get leave from work when they have kids yet?

Smedlos wrote:
> Machie wrote:
>
> >Do fathers get leave from work when they have kids yet?
>
> Yes you can have up to 2 weeks at £108.85 a week or 90% of
> your average earnings from the past 8 weeks if that is lower.


Aye thats right, with the right paper work though if i remember correctly.

and...


To qualify for paternity leave and pay you must:

* Be the biological father, or be the mother's husband or partner.
* Spend your time off caring for the mother and baby.
* Have been employed by your current employer for at least 26 weeks prior to the 15th week before the birth is expected (e.g. since the baby was conceived).
* Continue to be employed by the same employer from the 15th week before the expected due date, until the week of the birth.

Machie wrote:

>Do fathers get leave from work when they have kids yet?

Yes you can have up to 2 weeks at £108.85 a week or 90% of your average earnings from the past 8 weeks if that is lower.

I don't think there is a right and wrong age it's up to the individual. OK having kids later on in life probably means less financial pressures as having them young but having them young means that once you get in your early 40's they've probably left home and you can have your life back :D

Men and women believe that getting married and settling down earlier in life is a good idea, a survey suggests.

Of the 1,000 adults questioned, 90% said the ideal age to have children was under 30 and 43% aspired to a lifelong commitment with one partner.

But 80% of those surveyed for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour said unhappily married couples should not stay together just for the sake of their children.

And 38% said the best way to care for a child was for the mother to stay home.

It also found 41% of women felt guilty about placing a pre-school child in childcare compared with 20% of men.

Dr Sarah Childs of the University of Bristol said: "The survey suggests that women are not prepared to settle for merely a 'good enough man'."

The survey has been split into four categories - sex and relationships; work; parenting and caring and domestic arrangements.

Dr Rosie Campbell, of Birkbeck College, has also analysed the survey.

She said: "Women are still doing more of the chores and childcare and they're looking for Mr Right, not Mister Will-Do."

Survey results

The results on sex and relationships found that 90% of men and women say that the ideal age to have children is under 30; 43% of men and women aspire to a lifelong commitment with one partner; 40% say that the ideal age of settling down is between 25 and 27 years old, and 33% say it is as young as between 21 and 24.

The results on work, lifestyle and parenting found that 38% of men and women felt that a mother at home is the ideal way in which to care for pre-school children, as opposed to only 0.3% for a father staying at home as the childcarer.

When it came to housework, 45% of women and 57% of men reported sharing household chores equally.

The survey's results will be analysed and discussed on the radio programme throughout the week.

----

So when is a good age to get married and have kids? 90% think it's ideal to have kids under 30? Oh dear I better not show my girlfriend this :S But I'd have to agree aswell. Getting married in your 20ies, sure great as long as you don't rush into it.

I agree that a mother should be at home to take care of pre-school children. I think it's best for them both, though I'd like fathers to have a more active role in the childcare too. Do fathers get leave from work when they have kids yet?