Cool Dad syndrome could cost thousands a year

Research has unveiled a new generation of fathers suffering from ‘Cool Dad Syndrome', as they are put under pressure from their kids to keep up to date with the latest technology and trends.

According to the research from Friends Provident, some fathers feel that their children pile pressure on them to be their very own ‘Daddy Cool', with a third (34 per cent) of dads revealing that they have bought the latest gadgets and fashionable clothes for themselves due to direct pressure from their children. Not surprisingly, David Beckham topped the poll of ‘most admired celebrity dad'. Nearly half of dads (44 per cent) questioned say they often use their iPods or MP3 player, 38 per cent have a Nintendo Wii or similar and use it regularly and a quarter own and play on their PSP or Nintendo DS on a frequent basis.

‘Cool Dad Syndrome' comes at a cost according to the research. Dads say they are spending out nearly £800 a year buying the latest gadgets and fashions for themselves and their children. Yet just over one in three say they feel that they have made enough insurance provision to ensure their children would be well provided for should anything happen to them. The research found that nearly one in five dads don't have life cover and nearly half (45 per cent) are either underinsured or know they need to review their cover.

Peter Timberlake, head of public relations at Friends Provident, said: "Being a Cool Dad is not cheap and fathers are spending significant amounts of money keeping up with technologies and fashions for themselves and their children. Many are focusing on the here-and-now, rather than thinking about tomorrow.

"As men continue to have children later in life, they need to ensure that they have the finances in place in order to stay cool for longer and to maintain the standard of living for them and their children regardless of what the future holds."

According to the research nearly two thirds (59 per cent) of dads surveyed feel that they are more up to date with technology and trends than their own father was. This is supported by 53 per cent of dads who feel that their children consider them to be in-touch with them and their interests. Today's dads say they feel far more in touch with their children than they were with their own fathers. However, nearly a quarter (23 percent) are scared of losing touch with their children.

Despite the amount of money that they spend on gadgets for their children, dads still have the most gadgets in their households (42 per cent). Almost half of dads say they download podcasts, music and videos (46 per cent), more than a third are involved in social networks (38 per cent) and half consider themselves to be up-to-date with fashion (54 per cent). Despite having lots of gadgets dads are not always techno-whizzes with four in ten (40 per cent) having to go to their children for technical advice.