The Pandemic Changed The Way We Parent

We surveyed parents across the nation, and learned a lot about how the pandemic changed us

For most of us, the last few years have been a blur. Think about it: we went from just peripherally being aware that there was a virus spreading in January 2019, to being in full-on lockdown by March 2020. For many of us, our jobs switched from in person to remote work. Those who had family members who were essential workers or were essential themselves felt the stress and uncertainty of moving through a world that had all of the sudden grown looming and dangerous. We stayed home. We became teachers. We became full time caregivers at the same time as we were full time workers.

Naturally, the pandemic changed the way we look at our families and the world.

Over the course of 2022 here at Tinybeans, we conducted three waves of research with over 1000 parents across the nation, gathering insight on how the mindset of the modern parent has evolved. And the biggest thing we learned was that most parents were reminded of one resounding thing: that time with their families was more important than anything else. Here are some of the biggest takeaways:

• 87% of parents confirmed they would rather spend money on experiences versus things.
• 95% look forward to family vacations that introduce their kids to new experiences.
• While 90% express some concern about the economy, most – 4 out of 5 – consider spending on family experiences a necessity
• 95% carve out time with their kids daily no matter how busy they are
• 91% of parents said the pandemic reminded them that family time is more important than anything else.

“There’s this new generation of parents who have awoken to the importance of creating meaningful memories with their children, and we are here to support that journey,” says Eddie Geller, CEO and Co-Founder of Tinybeans. “I have four kids myself, and in my household “memories” don’t always equate to joy and cheer, but we certainly try. It’s a journey. I’ve come to appreciate as a parent you go from student to teacher, then back to student. I’ve learned more from my kids than anyone else.”

We all know the pandemic didn’t exactly lend itself to harmonious households, but as we come out of it, take a breath, and reconnect to a more normalized state, the research unveils that parents are feeling more optimistic about their parenting journey and feeling “more attached and committed to their children’s success than before.”

It makes sense. If nothing else, the last few years have shown us how precious time with our family really is.