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American Parents Grade Themselves
Aired October 30, 2002 - 13:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: American parents are giving themselves some tough grades when it comes to talking about issues of raising their kids. A new survey found that many parents feel like they are falling behind when it comes to the essential values, even when it comes to the children and facing a very, very dangerous world.
CNN's Charles Molineaux has the take on what parents are talking about, and the issues they are facing -- Charles.
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Martin. This report is called "A Lot Easier Said Than Done." And that about sums it up. The research group Public Agenda surveyed 1,600 parents of kids and actually sat down with some of them for focus groups.
For starters, 76 percent of them said that parents have a harder time raising kids today than parents did back when they were growing up. And they're also worried that they aren't doing a good job at passing along what they would consider crucial values to their kids. For example, when it comes to teaching children self-discipline or self-control, 83 percent of the parents think that it's important to do that. But only 34 percent think they actually have managed to do it. That's a gap of 49 percent points, 49 percent who think they have failed at teaching what they consider to be a crucial lesson.
When it comes to being careful with money, there's a 42-point gap.
On the importance of being honest and truthful or being self- reliant, parents feel like they're flunking by about 36 points.
And so on down the line with issues like nutrition, being polite, or helping the less fortunate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE FARKAS, PUBLIC AGENDA: Rather than say my little Johnny's perfect, and that my son can do no wrong, or daughter can do no wrong, parents were very willing to be self-critical to say we're falling short, there's still work to be done on some critical values. For example, teaching their kids to be honest, teaching their kids to save money and the value of a dollar, teaching their kids to try their hardest at school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOLINEAUX: At the same time, parents are very worried about the effect on their kids of the world around them. More so than some of those usual hot-button issues we're used to hearing about in public debates. For example, 55 percent worry a lot and 24 percent worry some about protecting their children from drugs and alcohol. That makes an overwhelming 79 percent.
Almost as many, 76 percent, are worried about someone kidnapping or physically hurting their kids, or about the negative influence of other children -- also, 76 percent.
And 73 percent are worried about negative messages in the media.
Now those are all more than are worried about things like health insurance, the quality of public schools or even paying their bills.
Parents have a real love/hate relationship with the media: 47 percent of the parents said their kids see crude or sexual messages in the media wherever they turn. Ninety percent say it seems like TV programs are getting worse every year. One father said soon they'll be killing people on the Cooking Channel.
And it's not just sex and violence. Some of the parents are also concerned about insufferable smart mouth TV characters backtalking their parents and elders.
But there is an oasis in this vast wasteland: 82 percent say in the past year they've actually seen a program that was helpful and had a good message. Only 22 percent say they have seriously considered trashing the TV altogether. Listen to this, Martin, in one study group a father said he didn't know if TV has a negative effect on his kids because he couldn't tell you how they'd act without it.
SAVIDGE: Wow! Charles Molineaux, thanks very much. I think. We appreciate the update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 30, 2002 - 13:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: American parents are giving themselves some tough grades when it comes to talking about issues of raising their kids. A new survey found that many parents feel like they are falling behind when it comes to the essential values, even when it comes to the children and facing a very, very dangerous world.
CNN's Charles Molineaux has the take on what parents are talking about, and the issues they are facing -- Charles.
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Martin. This report is called "A Lot Easier Said Than Done." And that about sums it up. The research group Public Agenda surveyed 1,600 parents of kids and actually sat down with some of them for focus groups.
For starters, 76 percent of them said that parents have a harder time raising kids today than parents did back when they were growing up. And they're also worried that they aren't doing a good job at passing along what they would consider crucial values to their kids. For example, when it comes to teaching children self-discipline or self-control, 83 percent of the parents think that it's important to do that. But only 34 percent think they actually have managed to do it. That's a gap of 49 percent points, 49 percent who think they have failed at teaching what they consider to be a crucial lesson.
When it comes to being careful with money, there's a 42-point gap.
On the importance of being honest and truthful or being self- reliant, parents feel like they're flunking by about 36 points.
And so on down the line with issues like nutrition, being polite, or helping the less fortunate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE FARKAS, PUBLIC AGENDA: Rather than say my little Johnny's perfect, and that my son can do no wrong, or daughter can do no wrong, parents were very willing to be self-critical to say we're falling short, there's still work to be done on some critical values. For example, teaching their kids to be honest, teaching their kids to save money and the value of a dollar, teaching their kids to try their hardest at school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOLINEAUX: At the same time, parents are very worried about the effect on their kids of the world around them. More so than some of those usual hot-button issues we're used to hearing about in public debates. For example, 55 percent worry a lot and 24 percent worry some about protecting their children from drugs and alcohol. That makes an overwhelming 79 percent.
Almost as many, 76 percent, are worried about someone kidnapping or physically hurting their kids, or about the negative influence of other children -- also, 76 percent.
And 73 percent are worried about negative messages in the media.
Now those are all more than are worried about things like health insurance, the quality of public schools or even paying their bills.
Parents have a real love/hate relationship with the media: 47 percent of the parents said their kids see crude or sexual messages in the media wherever they turn. Ninety percent say it seems like TV programs are getting worse every year. One father said soon they'll be killing people on the Cooking Channel.
And it's not just sex and violence. Some of the parents are also concerned about insufferable smart mouth TV characters backtalking their parents and elders.
But there is an oasis in this vast wasteland: 82 percent say in the past year they've actually seen a program that was helpful and had a good message. Only 22 percent say they have seriously considered trashing the TV altogether. Listen to this, Martin, in one study group a father said he didn't know if TV has a negative effect on his kids because he couldn't tell you how they'd act without it.
SAVIDGE: Wow! Charles Molineaux, thanks very much. I think. We appreciate the update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
