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Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

economist.com

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Re: Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

#21

Post by cknoxrun »

baldfat wrote: post #7

The problem is that 90% of the time the parents are now on their phones. Seriously I find myself on my phone and not interacting with my kids at times and I am super sensitive about phones. I don't allow phones during meals, during family time and not when someone is talking with you. I break my own rules a ton :(

I've mentioned this before on here, but for me tossing the smart phone and getting a flip phone has utterly changed the dynamic with my children. It has been 3 months, and I am still amazed (although I guess I shouldn't be) that being actually present with them when we interact has seemed to reduce their neediness/anxiety and improved our relationship/bond. If you can, I recommend giving it a try.

Re: Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

#22

Post by junkscience2017 »

tomc1985 wrote: post #2

Probably because helicopter parenting is in vogue (at least in the US). It is seriously messed up that you can have CPS called on you for letting your kid wander freely in the neighborhood

I can't get my kids out of the house. I try. All of their friends are on SnapChat and/or Steam games. No one leaves their rooms. It is really depressing. Kids are not getting fresh air anymore.

Re: Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

#23

Post by dinoleif »

kelukelugames wrote: post #20
dinoleif wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fathers can't be involved if they aren't around. Single motherhood rate in 1950: 5% Single motherhood rate in 2010: 41%

http://www.prb.org/pdf10/single-motherfamilies.pdf This paper says it's 24%. Do you have a source for 41? That's too high.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/12/18/the-u...

Re: Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

#24

Post by acemv »

tomc1985 wrote: post #2

Probably because helicopter parenting is in vogue (at least in the US). It is seriously messed up that you can have CPS called on you for letting your kid wander freely in the neighborhood

Unlikely -- As a parent, I am regularly exposed to messaging from local, state and the federal government, public school system, healthcare professionals, and parental advice "experts" on the importance of family bounding and spending time with my children.

I go out of my way to be more attentive to my children in the evening after work, and during the weekends. Their day to day lives are significantly more structured than my own upbringing.

Perhaps the rise in family time is due to this decades long mass messaging campaign around the developed world. And I don't think this is bad! Why? This social response is natural response to the rise in use of social media, entertainment and other electronic distractions.

Re: Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

#25

Post by seanmcdirmid »

thriftwy wrote: post #8
tomc1985 wrote: post #2

Probably because helicopter parenting is in vogue (at least in the US). It is seriously messed up that you can have CPS called on you for letting your kid wander freely in the neighborhood

I've read in some paper about Ice Cream Test: Whether your 7 years old can get to the corner store and back after buying an ice cream there without encountering any dangers such as traffic. Immediately thought that you could be jailed for that in some jurisdictions. Having said that, I think the number of people who let their kids free-range is decreasing everywhere unfortunately.

In Japan, there is a tv show that secretly follows 4 or 5 year old kids on their first trip to the store alone. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9eMZp8KsZ5k

So free ranging is not decreasing in all countries, just a few.

Re: Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

#26

Post by picodguyo »

It's interesting that reactions to stories about parenting are always default-negative no matter what. People are saying this stat just shows we are smothering our children. Had it been the opposite (half as much time), people would be accusing parents of outsourcing childcare.

Re: Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

#27

Post by mankyd »

Pulcinella wrote: post #9
tomc1985 wrote: post #2

Probably because helicopter parenting is in vogue (at least in the US). It is seriously messed up that you can have CPS called on you for letting your kid wander freely in the neighborhood

You won’t have CPS called on you for letting your children wander and play in the neighbor. Please don’t spread nonsense. Edited with my response to everyone depositing articles about the Meitivs: Nobody “called CPS on” the Meitivs. Somebody called the polic because they saw the children wandering around a parking garage (not a park like in many of the news stories. See [1].) The police officer then called CPS severa…

"The Maryland parents accused of child neglect for letting their children roam freely had to retrieve their children from Child Protective Services after they were removed from a park Sunday by police."

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/silver-spring/md-free-range-...

Re: Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

#28

Post by dinoleif »

dragonwriter wrote: post #18
dinoleif wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fathers can't be involved if they aren't around. Single motherhood rate in 1950: 5% Single motherhood rate in 2010: 41%

Fathers can be around without being married to the mother.

From a technical perspective sure. From a statistical perspective, the point is a distraction.

Re: Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago

#29

Post by QAPereo »

tomc1985 wrote: post #2

Probably because helicopter parenting is in vogue (at least in the US). It is seriously messed up that you can have CPS called on you for letting your kid wander freely in the neighborhood

Can you cite some cases of that happening, preferably a pattern of said cases?
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