Persil
PROUD AS PUNCH
Walking a child through the school gates in their crisp new uniform for the first time has been voted the proudest moment of a parent's life.
The momentous occasion beat a host of other milestones in a child's life, including their first words and first faltering steps.
More than a third of the 3,000 parents polled by Persil admitted shedding a tear when they waved goodbye to their child at the school gates for the fist time.
Dani Ross, Brand Manager for Persil, said: ''The first day of school is a huge milestone in a child's life.
''It marks the first opportunity for your child to go out and have a go at something new and this is bound to make any parent feel proud.
''Seeing any little four year old child in their school uniform is very cute, so when it's your own child it is really going to tug at the heart-strings.
''Unfortunately they don't stay looking pristine for long and by the end of the first day they look less cute when they are covered in grass stains and pen marks.''
A whopping 90 per cent of parents polled said the experience was much more emotional for women than it was for men.
And two thirds of parents said it was important to them that their son or daughter looked well presented for the first day of school.
An emotional one in 20 women even got tearful when ironing their tiny uniform in preparation for the big day.
The second proudest moment of a parent's life was seeing their baby smile for the first time followed by the first time they said 'mummy' or 'daddy'.
Having a starring role in the school nativity was the voted fourth in the poll, with the first day at nursery completing the top five.
Dani Ross continued: ''Any time a child excels at anything, whether it's in school or sporting hobbies, will make a parent swell with pride and all parents want their offspring to look clean and tidy for their achievements.''
A child's first steps was named the sixth proudest moment for parents followed by their first birthday and braving inoculations.
Getting a good report at parent's evening came tenth place in the poll, behind performing well in sports day.
PARENT'S PROUDEST MOMENT
1. First day at school
2. First smile
3. Saying mummy / daddy for the first time
4. Performing in the school nativity play
5. Their first day at nursery
6. Their first step
7. Their first birthday
8. Having inoculations for the first time
9. Performing in sports day
10. Getting a good report at parents evening
