No one ever said parenting was easy, but the challenges parents face today differ from those that parents faced, even as little as 10 years ago. If you’re finding it tough, the good news is you’re not alone. We recently worked with OneChoice on research into the everyday challenges and triumphs of Kiwi parenting. The aim was to understand Kiwi parent's approach to parenting in today's world by understanding how Kiwi parents tackle things such as technology, work-life balance, and education. These findings are not just informative, but also relevant and important for every Kiwi parent.
If you’d like to read the full report from One Choice, you can do that here.
Technology and Parenting
The role of technology in parenting is a relatively new phenomenon, with previous generations not having the same level of access or reliance on it. Technology presents both challenges and opportunities to parents in the digital age, and our research aimed to understand how technology is shaping modern parenting.
As you’d expect in this technology-focused world, most Kiwi parents use technology in some shape or form to help with their parenting (87%). The most popular forms of tech include using of smartphones and mobile apps (39%), but communication with children (33%), monitoring of children's devices (30%), and online educational platforms (27%) also scored highly.
Technology can provide challenges and opportunities; around half of parents (51%) agreed with this statement, and around 33% of parents see technology as mostly positive. Something more common among all our Kiwi parents is the importance of establishing boundaries for their children's interactions (95% enforce this), . focusing on managing screen time (35%) and ensuring access to suitable content (35%).
Family and work-life balance
One of the most pressing issues for Kiwi parents, as our research revealed, is the delicate balance between work and family life. A staggering 49% identified this as their primary challenge with 43% citing lack of time as a major obstacle. Here, we present our findings on the top 10 challenges Kiwi parents face when supporting their children’s learning at home.
Education support as a parent
The final area of the research study was understanding Kiwi parenting styles in relation to education. Our study found that 68% of parents with children aged five or older provide additional teaching support at home. From assisting with homework (51%) to using educational apps (34%) and online platforms (34%), it’s safe to say Kiwi Parents are invested in their children's academic future. Below are the top 10 tools Kiwi parents use to enhance and promote their children's education outside of school.
Parenting is a journey filled with challenges and triumphs, Through our research collaboration with OneChoice, we’ve gained valuable insights into the biggest issues facing Kiwi parents. From navigating the complexities of technology, ensuring time management and work-life balance are met, and supporting children's education outside of classwork, we’ve seen firsthand the resourcefulness and resilience of Kiwi parents.
As you continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of parenthood, remember you aren’t alone. There’s a massive community out there that can support and empower you to raise the next generation - and everyone's learning as they go.
Click here to read the full Kiwi Parenting Report 2024.
Source: OneChoice Kiwi Parenting Report by OneChoice and MYMAVINS January 2024 (n=505).
