Parents should watch out as the kids are home

With the school holidays upon us, many parents will be worrying about keeping the kids entertained over the summer holidays. Of equal concern however should be the threat of damage to possessions that arises from having children at home, especially with the risk of frequent summer downpours still on the horizon. According to the Tescocompare.com ‘Mr Bump' report - children and teenagers are to blame for 1.1 million accidents in the home each year - from spilling drinks on soft furnishings, to breaking household ornaments or posting toast into the DVD player.

The report from the recently launched home insurance service at Tescocompare.com, reveals that the total bill from young children is around £229 million pounds each year, and that in households with young children - they are responsible for over four in ten (42%) of all accidents and damage to the home. Adults in these households only account for 33% accidents by comparison.

Older children - those in their teens - pose less of a threat, but still accounted for 250,000 accidents in the last year, with damages totalling £68 million pounds. However teenagers are considerably less of a risk, only being at fault for one in five (21%) of accidents in homes in which they live. This drops them to second place in the ‘blame stakes' - behind adults who are responsible on one in three occasions (33%).

However those without children should not rest easy - the research reveals that visiting youngsters were responsible for 250,000 of the 850,000 accidents caused by young children last year. Meaning kids caused £68 million pounds of damage last year alone to other people's houses.

Commenting on the research, Paul Baxter of Tescocompare.com said: "As the saying goes accidents do happen - and this research suggests many of us suffer financial loses on an annual basis. What is worrying is that over four in ten (41%) of us don't cover ourselves for accidents in the home - leaving us at risk of being seriously out of pocket. You can insure against accidental damage - and the new home insurance service on Tescocompare.com will enable you to see what is covered, and what is not, in the event of an accident - as well as how much extra you can pay to cover against mishaps around the house.

"With children at home during the holidays the likelihood for accidents to happen increases - and if you aren't covered for accidental damage to your possessions it isn't too late to add this cover to your policy - visit Tescocompare.com today to see how much it will cost."

For more information, visit tescocompare.com.