Correcting My Parents

A national survey was done on 3,000 American adults to measure the amount of accurate knowledge they possess about child development. The results were a bit negative but not surprising. Many people often think they know things because they are "smart enough" and don't need knowledge from books. At less this is what my brother told me as he pointed to his temple area on his noggin.

Some examples of the results of the report are:

"44% of parent of young children incorrectly believe that picking up a three month old every time he cries will spoil him."

"29% of all adults do not understand that brain development can be impacted very early on."

"26% of all adults incorrectly believe that a child as young as six months will not suffer any long-term effects from witnessing violence."

"67% of all adults incorrectly believe that working parents cannot develop a bond with their children as strong as stay-at-home parents."

Only 12% of people understood that infants 6 months and younger can experience depression. 51% thought only children 3 and older could become depressed.

"Almost 40% of parents of young children are likely to believe that a child’s behavior is based on revenge at too young an age."

(I never understood why Parents think their kids are vengeful? Yet I have heard parents say such things.)

"More than one in four parents of young children expect a three-year-old to be able
to sit quietly for an hour, yet child development research shows that they are not
developmentally ready to do so."

(I have seen parents insist on their kid sitting a special events for upwards of an hour and then punish the kid with a time out (more sitting) for not sitting still.)

"45% of parents of young children incorrectly believe that letting a two-year-old get down from the dinner table to play before the rest of the family has finished is spoiling."

"61% of parents of young children and 62% of all adults condone spanking as a
regular form of punishment. This finding is surprising, given that while many parents condone spanking as a regular form of punishment, many also understand that this can lead to children
acting more aggressively, and that it will not lead to better self-control."

"The Education Factor: Among parents of young children, a four-year college degree
is the single largest differentiator between those who know more about child devel-
opment versus those who know less. Parents with a high school education or less
need more information on child development."

"The Generation Gap: There are significant generational differences between parents of
young children and grandparents regarding “spoiling.” Grandparents are more likely than
current parents of young children to view appropriate caregiving activities as spoiling."


DYG Inc. (2000). What grown-ups understand about child development: A national benchmark survey: Civitas Initiative, Zero To Three, BRIO Corporation.

The Survey