Research on 1,000 parents shows that 45 percent practice gentle parenting, and 58 percent emphasize children's emotional intelligence, while practices like mandatory clean-plate club and latchkey parenting are slowly becoming a thing of the past.
Nearly half of today's parents are turning to gentle parenting, and as many as 58 percent focus on developing their children's emotional intelligence, reveals a study reported by 24sata. The survey, conducted via the OnePoll platform for the Vitabiotics Wellbaby brand, included 1,000 parents of children aged 0 to 10 and provides insight into profound changes in modern parenting.
Modern parents are increasingly rejecting parenting patterns from the past. Only eight percent of respondents support so-called latchkey parenting, a practice from the 1970s and 1980s when children stayed home alone after school with their own key. Even fewer would allow their children to bike to school independently (15 percent) or play outside unsupervised (13 percent). Traditional habits like mandatory clean-plate club, writing thank-you notes, or using reward charts, according to the research, could also soon become a thing of the past.
Parents attribute major changes primarily to technology, with 80 percent of respondents believing it is the main driver of new parenting trends. More than half (53 percent) see social media as a key stimulus because it allows constant comparison of their own practices with others, and 54 percent believe that their decisions are also influenced by the growing number of available studies on health and well-being. As a result, 75 percent of parents agree that changes are most pronounced in families with children under 18.
Generational differences are evident. As many as 48 percent of Gen Z parents describe their parenting style as 'predominantly modern,' compared to 38 percent of Millennials and Gen X. Meanwhile, 40 percent of all respondents believe they are less traditional than their own parents, and 67 percent of younger Gen Z parents admit feeling pressure to keep up with modern trends. That parenting behavior patterns are constantly changing is believed by 87 percent of respondents, while 80 percent say their own parenting approach has changed since the birth of their first child. At the same time, 59 percent admit they find it difficult to keep up with new developments.
Compared to previous generations, parents today pay much more attention to children's health and well-being, according to 68 percent of respondents. Seventy-one percent believe modern parents have more knowledge about proper nutrition than their own parents or grandparents had.
Despite this, many are not aware of key recommendations. UK health guidelines (NHS) recommend that all children aged six months to five years receive daily supplements of vitamins A, C, and D, unless they drink half a liter of infant formula per day. However, the research showed that as many as 39 percent of parents are completely unaware of this guideline.
"Every generation has its own view of parenting. But what doesn't change is the desire of parents to do what's best for their children. The difference is that today's parents have more tools, more scientific knowledge, and more support than ever before. This information and additional guidelines allow parents to make informed decisions about their children's health from birth, for example, by ensuring they get all the necessary nutrients," said Melissa Cohen, Head of Nutrition at Vitabiotics, as reported by The Sun.
"Trends in parenting are constantly evolving. But one thing has remained unchanged through generations: the importance of good health and nutrition for babies and children. It's hard to say which trends will disappear and which might come back in 30 years. Healthy habits are not a trend, and what is nutritionally optimal for a child today will very likely be similar in the future," added a spokesperson for Vitabiotics Wellbaby.
24sata reports that the research shows parenting is changing rapidly, but despite pressures and trends, the focus on health, emotions, and informed decisions is becoming a lasting value for new generations of parents.
