Parent Supervision

1 in 4 parents who drink alcohol on special occasions are not likely to plan how much they drink or whether they’ll be able to take care of their child the next day. 3 in 10 parents know of an adult who may have caused an unsafe situation for their child due to drinking alcohol on a special occasion. 1 in 12 parents admitted to a prior situation where they may have been too impaired from alcohol to take care of their parenting responsibilities.

9 out of 10 parents definitely would report a ride operator suspected of being drunk or on drugs to a person in authority at an amusement park or carnival. 6 out of 10 parents think ride operators at amusement parks and carnivals should have random alcohol and drug tests. 1 in 5 parents had not talked with their child about what to do if they got lost at an amusement park or carnival.

Two-thirds of parents agree that parents need to give tweens some freedom to make mistakes. 9 in 10 parents feel social media makes it easier for tweens to get in trouble. Mothers are more likely than fathers to monitor tween by reading their social media or tracking their location via cell phone.

80% of White parents say their child can swim independently, compared to 66% of Hispanic and 49% of Black parents. More White parents report their child has ever taken swimming lessons compared with Hispanic and Black parents. 37% of parents would allow their child to go into the water in a home/neighborhood pool or hotel pool without an adult present.

1 in 7 parents did not put their toddler in a car seat for every car ride during their recent vacation. Only two-thirds of parents checked to make sure guns and other weapons were out of their toddler’s reach. Three quarters of parents remembered to put medications out of reach when traveling with their toddler.

4 of 5 parents are very confident that their tween will know what to do in a storm or fire if home alone. Only about half of parents are confident that their tween will not play with guns if home alone. Mothers and fathers have similar levels of confidence in tweens’ safety practices.

Teens say their parents have placed fewer limits on their driving than were reported by their parents. 73% of parents restrict their teens from texting while driving. 61% of parents do not allow their teens to drive after 10:00 p.m.

Only about 15% of parents report their teen would discuss health problems independently at a routine check-up. Two-thirds of parents complete health history forms without involving their teen. Parents’ top reason that teens are not involved in discussing health problems is they are not comfortable in that role.

Two-thirds of parents believe teens should shift to adult-focused care by age 18; only one-third do so. Less than one-half of parents of 18- to 19-year-olds believe their teens know how to make a doctor’s appointment. Parents are least confident about their teens’ self-management related to knowing what their health insurance covers.

Overall, 79% of parents and 85% of grandparents of young kids report having prescription medicine at home. Grandparents are 4 times more likely than parents to keep prescription medicine in easy-access places. About two-thirds of adults overall would support potential new laws that would require medicines to be packaged as single-dose servings.