Gone are the days when the most expensive item in a child’s bedroom might have been a remote-controlled car or a collection of Barbie dolls.
A recent survey out of the UK reveals that children's bedrooms across the UK contain £14 billion worth of goods.
According to Bradley Du Chenne, spokesperson for Dial Direct Insurance, this trend is also relevant to certain parts of South Africa and emphasises the importance of having a comprehensive home contents insurance policy in place.
“Due to the incredible array of electronic gadgets available today, this revelation comes as no surprise. Sadly, many of these items often lie discarded and unused in kids’ bedrooms, after the initial thrill of receiving them wears off,” says Du Chenne.
The survey, published by Co-operative Insurance, found that in the UK, a teenager’s bedroom is one of the most expensive rooms in the home, often containing a gaming consol, DVD player, laptop computer, MP3 player, sound system and cellphone.
Du Chenne says: “When you factor in sports equipment and musical instruments, this can notch up to tens of thousands of rand.”
Despite these findings, three out of five parents surveyed said they believe children today own too many electrical items.
“With the festive season soon approaching and with it, gift giving and receiving, one of the most useful gifts you can give yourself is the knowledge that your household contents are adequately insured,” says Du Chenne.
Du Chenne concludes saying that many parents simply do not realise just how valuable the contents of their children's rooms are. It is important for consumers to regularly review the value of their home contents and portable possessions and, if necessary, increase the level of cover to ensure that it is adequate.