When today’s parents look for reliable advice, about half turn to a familiar source: their own mother.
This discovery is one of several findings from a new investigation parents by the non-profit association Zero to Three. The organization contacted approximately 2,200 parents of children ages 1 to 5 and also hosted eight online sessions to collect qualitative data on what it means to raise children in a time of dramatic social change.
Parents are especially looking for guidance on supporting their children’s social-emotional development, helping them with educational pursuits and disciplining them effectively — all topics where early childhood educators can be helpful, said Rebecca Parlakian, Zero to Three’s senior director of programs.
In addition to the 49 percent of respondents who said reliable advice came from their mother, 37 percent said they looked to their partner for that advice, and 35 percent cited medical professionals as their primary source of reliable advice.
But parents are also turning to other, newer sources, like social media and artificial intelligence. About 18% of respondents say they receive advice from artificial intelligence, and of those parents, 76% found the advice helpful.
“When I put it all together, it tells me that today’s parents don’t rely on a single source to define their parenting,” Parlakian said. “They have had to learn to evaluate information based on whether it fits with their personal beliefs, practices, family values and the type of childhood they want to give their children. »
Parents surveyed also said they were seeking programs such as paid parental leave, universal pre-kindergarten, and policies regarding social media and AI content regulation.
“Screen time is a real problem and they’re really looking for support that’s not just spending their time as mediators,” Parlakian said.
Contact editor Christina A. Samuels at 212-678-3635 or samuels@hechingereport.org
This story about parents was created by The Hechinger reportan independent, nonprofit news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Subscribe to the Hechinger newsletter.
The article Parents Take a Broad Approach When Seeking Reliable Child-Rearing Advice appeared first in the Hechinger Report.
