Why parents say their kids are smarter than they were as children

By Vanessa Mangru // SWNS

NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO + INFOGRAPHIC

Most parents say their kids today are smarter than when they were children, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 parents of children ages 5 to 14 looked at how parents differentiate their learning habits from their children’s and found that parents think kids today are luckier than they were.

Sixty-five percent think learning was boring when they were kids for many reasons — for example, not having the option to learn from home (54%).

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of BYJU’s, the survey also found that 58% of parents said it was difficult for them to stay engaged while learning as a child because of how they were taught.

People are most likely to identify as visual/spatial learners (27%) or logical/mathematical learners (15%) and would've preferred learning methods that matched that.

The most disliked methods of learning people remember from their childhood include memorizing information (38%), reading aloud (37%) and filling out worksheets/workbooks (28%).

Parents said the subjects they struggled with in their youth were math (49%), science (27%) and history (27%).

In addition to having methods that didn’t suit their learning style (35%), parents also said large class sizes (33%) contributed to learning difficulties.

Perhaps this is why three in five attribute their child having an easier time learning remotely, which has allowed parents to provide their kids with one-on-one attention (39%).

Parents also see value in at-home learning because their child has more time to learn the material (33%) and they don’t have to be concerned about their child’s safety (30%).

Most parents also believe that advances in technology and child psychology have a hand in improving the way today’s children learn (78%).

Above any other subject, parents think kids will be quickest to learn computer skills (55%).

Other topics that may be simplified today are multiplication/division (38%), spelling (34%) and reading aloud (27%).

Additionally, three in four said education methods are more entertaining today, so children are more engaged and absorb key concepts faster than they did (70%).

Forty-five percent of parents wouldn’t be opposed to computer games that would help their children enjoy learning more, and another 38% favor educational shows/movies.

Nearly four in five believe their child would enjoy learning more if concepts were taught by entertaining characters from their favorite shows/movies (79%).

Seven in 10 even admitted that they learned a lot from educational shows as a child.

The most popular educational shows that parents remember watching when they were kids? Sesame Street (53%), Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (38%) and Reading Rainbow (37%).

The majority of those who watched educational shows as children said it played a crucial part in helping them learn (79%), mainly because it gave them a boost in learning material before it was taught in school (72%).

“After a turbulent year for kids, teachers, and parents, now is the time to get students back on track,” said Teri Rousseau, Senior Director K3, BYJU’S. “The study results suggest that having personalized learning options that are engaging, entertaining and even game-like in nature can help combat learning loss and close the achievement gap that’s widened tremendously over the past year.”

TOP EDUCATIONAL SHOWS PARENTS WATCHED

1. Sesame Street (53%)
2. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (38%)
3. Reading Rainbow (37%)
4. The Magic School Bus (32%)
5. Schoolhouse Rock! (31%)
6. Zoom (27%)
7. Arthur (25%)
8. The Electric Company (25%)
9. Bill Nye the Science Guy (25%)
10. Captain Kangaroo (24%)