-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
1/12
Casting a Vote for the Next Generation:A Survey of Parents on
Their Priorities and Concerns for Their Children
Research conducted in partnership with The Center for the
Next Generation and Parents magazine by
September 26, 2012
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
2/12
Page 2
About the Sponsors
The survey was a joint initiative of The Center for the
NextGeneration and Parents magazine.
- The Center for the Next Generation works to shape national
dialoguearound two major challenges that affect the prospects of
AmericasNext Generation advancing a sustainable energy future
and
improving opportunities for children and families. As a
nonpartisanorganization, the Center generates original strategies
that advancethese goals through research, policy development and
strategiccommunications.
- Parents has been America's #1 family magazine for more than
85years. The Parents brand reflects a powerful community of 15
million
monthly magazine readers and more than 4 million unique
monthlyParents.com users devoted to celebrating the joys of
parenthood,raising healthy kids and creating healthy families.
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
3/12
Page 3
About the Survey
The survey was designed to explore the following topics:- Assess
parents opinions about childrens issues in America today- Determine
how modern parenthood has been impacted by the
recession and the slow economic recovery
- Explore parents preferred solutions to the problems facing
children The survey was conducted online among 2,173 parents in
the
United States with children under the age of 18.
- The data have been weighted to reflect the
demographiccomposition of parents in the United States. Because the
sample is
based on those who initially self-selected for participation in
theonline panel, no estimates of sampling error can be
calculated.
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
4/12
Page 4
Key Findings
Parents across the country are concerned that they cannotsupport
their families in todays economy, and 91 percent of
American parents said that the lack of jobs that pay enough
tosupport a family is a serious problem.
Modern family life has been impacted by the Great Recession
inmany ways, including 1 in 5 parents who decided not to
haveanother child as a result.
A majority of parents think the government is not doing
enoughfor children and would like the current Presidential
candidates toprovide some insights on how they plan to tackle
childrens
issues.
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
5/12
Page 5
91%89%
87% 86% 85% 85% 84% 83%
Lack of jobs thatpay enough to
support a family
Violence andbullying
Peer pressure Impact offederal debt onnext generation
Access toaffordable,
quality healthcare
Poor diet and/orlack of physical
activity
Poor qualityK-12 education
College Debt
Parents Are Worried About Supporting Their Families
Ninety-one percent of parents believe that the United States
lacks jobs thatpay enough money to support a family, and many of
their top worries for theirchildren are related to financial
concerns.
For each of the following problems facing children in America
today, please indicate whether youthink the problem is very
serious, somewhat serious, not very serious or not serious at
all.
Problems facing kids today viewed as very serious or somewhat
serious
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
6/12
Page 6
Parents Need Money More Than Time
When asked if $10,000 per year or an extra hour of quality time
with theirfamily each day would have the most positive impact on
their family, seven inten parents choose money.
33%
67%
Another hour of uninterruptedquality time each day wouldhave the
most positive impact on
my familys future
An extra $10,000 each yearwould have the most positiveimpact on
my familys future
Which of the following statements comes closer to your view even
if neither is exactly right?
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
7/12
Page 7
When compared with similar questions from past polls, the
portion of peoplewho place more value on money as opposed to time
appears to be trendingup. However, please note that the 1995 and
2006 data was collected amongthe U.S. general population, not
parents specifically, which could account forsome of the
disparity.
33%
67%
Another hour of uninterrupted qualitytime each day would have
the mostpositive impact on my familys future.
An extra $10,000 each year wouldhave the most positive impact on
myfamilys future.
201220061995
Which of the following statements comes closest to how you
feel?
44%51%
5%
51%35%
14%
*Source: Democratic LeadershipCouncil, The Emerging Politics
ofGlobalization Survey, Aug. 2006.
*Source: Bozell Worldwide, "QualityQuotient Poll, Nov. 1995.
*Source: The Center for the NextGeneration, Parents Views on
Childrens
Issues, Aug. 2012.
I would rather have more free time,even if it means making less
money.
Id rather earn more money, even ifit requires more of my free
time.
Neither/dont know
I would rather have more free time.
I would rather have more money.
Dont know
Parents Need Money More Than Time
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
8/12
Page 8
Parents Still Hopeful for Childrens Future, ButMany Express
Concern
While the majority of parents(55%) think life will be better
fortheir children than it has beenfor them, a quarter (26%) feel
itwill be worse.
55%
26% 19%
Better off Worse off Same0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Do you expect your children will be better off or worse off
thanyou when they reach your current stage of life?
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
9/12
Page 9
The Recession Has Impacted Families
Modern family life has been impacted by the Great Recession in
many ways. One in five parents have decided not to have another
child as a result of the
recession.
36%
28%
21%18%
13%
28%
My kid(s) are not ableto participate in someof the activities
theirfriends participate in
I have had to worklonger hours and/or
my partner has had towork longer hours
Im unable to providemy kid(s) with the
quality of education Iwould like
I have decidedagainst havinganother child
I have had to returnto work and/or mypartner has had to
return to work
None of these
In which of the following ways has the recent recession impacted
your family? Please choose all that apply.
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
10/12
Page 10
Parents Want More From The Government
Three-quarters of parents do not think the government is doing
enough forchildren.
74%68% 68%
63%
26%
9%
Children The elderly The poor Middle-class people Immigrants
Wealthy people
Do you think the government does too much, not enough or about
the right amount for each of the following groups?
% of parents responding not enough
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
11/12
Page 11
Parents Want More From The Government andPresidential
Candidates
Parents agree that childrens issues need to be a top priority
for next president. However, 58% of parents do not think the
current Presidential candidates are
talking about children and family issues enough during this
campaign season.
How important a priority do you think the nextpresident needs to
make children and family issues
in his administration?
33%
64%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Important Not important
Somewhat important Very important
Not important at all Not very important
Please indicate whether you agree or disagree that thecurrent
candidates for president are spending enough
time talking about children and family issues.
31% 22%
36%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Agree Disagree
Somewhat agree Strongly agree
Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree
-
7/27/2019 Casting A Vote for the Next Generation
12/12
Page 12
For complete survey details, visit www.TCNG.org. Please contact
Lisa Cohen,
Colleen Schwartz or Patrick Taylor with questions.
Lisa Cohen
Communications, Center for the Next Generation
[email protected] 310-395-2544
Colleen Schwartz
Associate Director of Communications, Parents
[email protected] 212.551.7033
Patrick Taylor
Vice President, National Media Group Communications
[email protected] 212-551-6984
