Most arguments within families are caused by problems with children studying, a survey released during the Sixth Shanghai International Forum for Children shows.

Another survey discussed at the forum reveals that the most important thing for the majority of parents was that their children did well at school.

The survey was carried out in seven local schools, involving more than 2,800 students dealt with arguments or conflicts they had had with their parents in the past six months. The conflicts could be physical or verbal. The biggest reasons for conflicts to arise in families were problems with studying and the organization of students' spare time.

Studying and spare time caused 6.6 percent of students to fight with their parents several times a week.

On the parental side, most complained about their children's attitude to study and the way they spent their time.

"I hope my child will complete his homework and only go out to play at the weekends and for no more than two hours a day," one mother wrote in the questionnaire.

Another complained: "I lost face as my child failed to get good marks in his examinations. He goes to sleep too late and this affects the next days' study."

The survey also showed children were more likely to have arguments with their mothers than with their fathers which suggests that mothers are more involved with their educational and daily affairs. An earlier survey in eight provinces showed mothers spent an average 30.34 hours weekly looking after their children while fathers only averaged 9.81 hours.

The forum runs until today with the theme "Child Rights, Protection and Social Responsibility."

(Shanghai Daily September 21, 2007)