Parental Decision Making

1 in 5 parents consider if their child in middle or high school needs a mental health day when deciding whether they’re too sick to go to school. 1 in 4 parents think school attendance policies make it difficult for children with medical conditions. 2 in 3 parents say their child in middle or high school worries about the impact on grades if they are absent from school.

4 in 5 parents of young children use social media to discuss parenting topics. Nearly half of parents rate social media as very useful for getting new ideas to try. 2 in 5 parents think it’s difficult to distinguish good vs bad advice on social media. More than half of parents use privacy settings or restrict who can see posts about their children.

3 in 4 parents are concerned about the impact of air quality problems on their child’s health. 2 in 3 parents report poor or unhealthy air quality in their area, most often related to wildfires. Among parents reporting poor air quality in their area, 1 in 5 believe it affected their child’s health.

1 in 6 parents report their child complains about belly pain at least once a month. Among parents whose child frequently complains about belly pain, 2 in 5 have not talked with the child’s doctor. 1 in 3 parents are very confident they can tell when their child’s belly pain may be a sign of a serious problem.

Half of parents have used pre-owned equipment for their child, while 4 in 5 have donated or sold pre-owned equipment. 2 in 3 parents feel it is hard to tell whether pre-owned equipment is safe for their child. Half of parents are comfortable only with pre-owned equipment shared by family or close friends.

Parents cite logistical factors (schedule, convenience) as top factors in deciding whether a job is appropriate for their teen. Among parents of teens with a formal job, nearly half report their teen has experienced workplace problems. Less than 1 in 3 parents feel very informed about state laws for teen employment.

9 in 10 parents agree that running a low-grade fever helps a child’s body fight off infection. 2 in 3 parents are very confident they know whether their child needs medication to reduce fever. 1 in 3 parents would give fever-reducing medication for elevated temperature below 100.4°.

9 in 10 parents think teens can believe in God or a higher power without being involved in organized religion. Only 1 in 3 parents say their teen attends religious services regularly. 3 in 4 parents believe participating in religious services helps teens connect with their family history and traditions.

Nearly half of parents have leftover prescription medicine at home. Only 1 in 5 parents think it is unsafe to take medicine past the expiration date. 1 in 7 parents have flushed expired or leftover medicine down the toilet or sink.

Only half of parents recognize that screen time has a major impact on their child’s eye health. Most parents overlook simple actions to protect children’s eyes, such as wearing protective eyewear when playing sports and sunglasses when outside. 1 in 7 parents say their child has not had a vision test or seen an eye doctor in the past 2 years.