By Allison Sadlier // SWNS
New York office - 646-873-7565 / usnews@swns.com
NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC
Three in four parents think they’re better moms and dads than their own parents, according to new research.
A study of 2,000 parents of school-aged children found 76% believe they're a better parent than their own.
And three in four respondents think parenting is more difficult in the modern world than it was when they were children.
The survey, commissioned by Osmo and conducted by OnePoll, examined the challenges facing today’s parents and how they plan to incorporate their own childhood experiences into their parenting style.
Seventy-eight percent of respondents were adamant they would not be passing on certain aspects of their childhood to their kids.
Results revealed 41% of parents surveyed think strict bedtimes are a thing of the past and 39% don’t make their children sit at the dinner table until their plate is clean.
More than a third don’t banish their children with the classic “go to your room” either.
That’s not the only parenting practice respondents are rejecting ‒ 46% say they will not be spanking or doling out any sort of corporal punishment.
Beyond trying to evolve past old habits, parents think there’s a lot more to contend with.
When it comes to the trickiest parts of parenting, a quarter of respondents named the safe use of technology as a major concern.
Seven in 10 (69%) have screen time rules in place for their children, but that doesn’t seem to be enough, as 71% of respondents confessed they wish they had stricter screen times rules.
That’s no surprise, seeing as one in five parents surveyed admitted their kids have unmonitored access to a cell phone, and three in 10 have unmonitored use of a tablet.
When it comes to gaming parents are even more likely to let kids play what they like. A third of kids have unmonitored use of a mobile gaming device (34%) or video game console (32%).
"A hands on, educational approach is a healthier way for kids to use screens, which can hopefully alleviate parents anxiety about technology in the home,” said a spokesperson for Osmo.
“We really want families, kids and educators to have quality technology programs that are hands on, like we used to play. Because technology isn't going anywhere.”
All that screen time is a serious source of concern for parents — since four in five worry about the kind of content their children are consuming.
Eighty-two percent of respondents would even relax their screen time rules if the content their children were consuming was educational.
And parents would be willing to spend some cash on additional educational products for their kids. Respondents would consider spending on average $34.55 a month to give their kids additional materials to educate them and keep them occupied.
CEO and developer of Osmo, Pramod Sharma — who has two children of his own — doesn’t restrict his little ones from using technology at home. But he does make sure their screen time is active and educational. He said, “The use case of just watching YouTube mindlessly is very little in our house."
ASPECTS OF CHILDHOOD NOT TO PASS ALONG TO CHILDREN
- Spanking/corporal punishment 46%
- Strict bedtimes 41%
- Can’t get up from dinner table until you’re finished 39%
- Time spent alone 36%
- ‘Go to your room’ 35%
- Time outs 32%
- Leave child home alone 31%
- Grounding 30%
MOST CHALLENGING ASPECTS OF PARENTING
- Discipline 49%
- Setting boundaries 43%
- Education 39%
- Scheduling 36%
- Daily grind 32%
- Work-life balance 30%
- Nutrition 29%
- Noise levels 27%
- Safe use of tech 27%
- Good health/hygiene 27%
- Entertainment 25%
- Filling the day 25%
