9/1/2013
Parents use a multitude of tricks to keep children occupied, whether it’s turning on the TV so mom can make dinner or handing a child a smartphone while waiting in line. Although technology is increasingly a preferred distraction for parents, tangible toys and books still remain popular options, according to research conducted by Northwestern University. One in three parents (32%) are “very” likely to give their child a toy or activity to occupy him or her when they are out at a restaurant, while only 14% will give him or her a mobile device. Similarly, 51% of parents are “very” likely to give their children a toy or activity while they do chores, compared to 36% who would sit them in front of the TV and 12% who would give them a mobile device.
The child’s age plays a defining role in what tools parents use as a distraction. Some 17% of parents who own mobile devices say they are very or somewhat likely to give their child a mobile device when they do things around the house, compared to 41% of parents with 2-to-5-year-olds and 43% of parents with 6-to-8-year-olds.
Although books are generally considered bedtime material, parents also rely on TV and DVDs to ease their children into dreamland.
Parents aren’t entirely chained to their children. One in four (25%) are with them for “almost all” of the day Monday through Friday, but 62% are with their non-school-attending children for less than half of the day. This interaction changes significantly on weekends. Two in three parents (68%) are with their children for “almost all” of the day on Saturday and Sunday. Hence, it’s no surprise that parents employ various distractions to enable them to finish chores or, at the very least, take a shower.
Technology is integrated in the family home. Only 18% of families with children under age nine have just one TV set, with 50% having more than three. One in three of these families (35%) keep the TV on most or all of the time. The majority of families with children have computers (88%), high-speed Internet access (85%), video game consoles (73%), cable or satellite (73%), and a smartphone (71%). Moreover, 35% of children under age nine have a TV set in their bedroom, 17% have a DVD player, 8% have a video game console, and 5% have a computer. Plus, 29% of children own an educational game player, such as Leapster, 24% have their own handheld game player, 7% have their own iTouch, and 6% have their own tablet device.
Although children have a multitude of distractions, they tend to stick to classic favorites. On a typical weekday with no school, they spend one hour and 38 minutes watching TV and DVDs and an hour reading. During the weekend, children spend two hours and 12 minutes watching TV and DVDs and one hour and two minutes reading. Their usage of handheld video games increases from 15 minutes on a weekday to 26 minutes on the weekend. Children, however, aren’t partaking in these activities by themselves. Eighty-nine percent of parents say they are watching TV alongside their kids, and 92% read with them. Parents are more likely to sit alongside their children using the computer than they are when their children use a smartphone for playing games (70% vs. 63%).
Children may wield some power of persuasion, but, when it comes to appropriate content for their children, parents most often watch or play it first (45%), while 17% rely on the reputation of the network/company behind the project, 17% go with their children’s recommendations, and 15% seek out their friend’s advice.
Few parents fight over their children’s technology use, with 20% of parents saying negotiating media use causes conflicts in their homes. Half of parents (55%) say they are not concerned about their children’s media use. Plus, 83% of parents say they are typically in agreement with their spouse over their children’s media use. Two in three parents (63%) always limit the types of TV shows, games, and websites that their children can use, and 52% always restrict the time they spend on these activities.
That said, moms are more likely than dads to say children’s media use causes conflicts (22% vs. 18%) and less likely to feel that both parents are in agreement over their children’s media use (80% vs. 89%).
Technology Nonadvancement
Nearly seven in 10 parents (69%) say technology and mobile devices have not made parenting easier particularly because they feel children will fail to develop important social skills if they spend too much time on these devices (58%). One in two parents (50%) are concerned that children can get addicted to these devices, and 33% feel these devices are just one more reason for parents and children to fight.
SOURCE: “Parenting In The Age Of Digital Technology,” Northwestern University, School of Communication, Ellen Wartella, Study author, 2240 Campus Dr., Frances Searle Bldg., #2-148, Evanston, IL 60209; 847-467-2750; ellen-wartella@northwestern.edu; www.northwestern.edu.
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