2025年美国儿童和家庭状况

THESTATEOF

KIDSANDFAMILIESINAMERICA2025

C拿

THESTATEOF

KIDSANDFAMILIESINAMERICA2025

Credits

Authors:

Copyeditor:Designers:

CelindaLake,AlysiaSnell,CateGormley,IzzyVinyard,MatthewGillett(LakeResearchPartners)KristenSoltisAnderson,EleanorO'Neil(EchelonInsights)

DylanAlles,EddaCollinsColeman,MichaelRobb(CommonSenseMedia)ChristopherDare

AmyBuller,AliceSeiler

Suggestedcitation:Lake,C.,Snell,A.,Gormley,C.,Vinyard,I.,Gillett,M.,Anderson,K.S.,O'Neil,E.,Alles,D.,CollinsColeman,E.,&Robb,M.(2025).ThestateofkidsandfamiliesinAmerica,2025.CommonSenseMedia.

Introduction

AcrosstheU.S.,familiesarenavigatingalandscapemarkedbypressingchallenges.OnbehalfofCommonSenseMedia,LakeResearchPartnersandEchelonInsightsconductedtwosurveys—oneamongparentsofchildrenofanyage,andanotheramongkidsandteensage12to17—thatofferadetailedportraitofwhatlifelookslikeforfamiliestoday.ThesesurveysprovideinsightsintothestateofAmericankidsandfamiliesthroughanexplorationofcurrentattitudesamongparentsandyoungpeople,theirmostsalientconcerns,theirhopesforthenewpresidentialadministration,andsolu-tionsthattheysupportontheissuesthatmatter.

In2024,CommonSenseMediareleasedasurveyaboutlikely2024voters,includingparentvoters,aswellaskidsandteen-agers.Inlastyear'ssurvey,parentvoterssharedthesameconcernsasnon-parentvotersabouttheeconomyandthefutureofAmericanchildren.Thereisastrongcontinuityintheresponses—parentsthisyearandvotersinlastyear'ssurveyseearealopportunitytoimproveeducation,andtheywantactiontosafeguardyouthmentalhealth.Justlikethisyear,surveyrespondentsacrosspartylinesfavoredinvestmentinkidsandfamilies,sawaroleforgovernment,andthoughtthatpoliticiansarefailingtodeliver.Thisyear,wewantedtodigdeeperintoattitudesamongparents,andmanyofthesetrendsheldconsistent,withparentsexpressingstrongbipar-tisansupportforfamily-focusedpoliciesdespitedeepskepticismaboutgovernmentaction.

Parentsandyoungpeoplehavenotableconcernsabouthowthingsaregoingforkidsandfamiliestoday,rangingfromtheneedtoimproveeducationandexpandaccesstomentalhealthcaretoenforcingregulationstoimprovetechandsocialmediaexperiencesforyouth,andthegovernmentdoingabetterjobofmeetingfamilies'basicneeds.Whentheythinkaboutthefuture,parents,kids,andteensaremorehopefulandpositivethanfearfulandnegative,butparents'anxietiesabouttheaffordabilityofhousingandpost-secondaryeduca-tionabound.

Thenationisatacriticalcrossroadsforfamilies,withsignifi-cantchangesonmultiplefrontswiththearrivaloftheTrumpadministration.Contrarytoconventionalwisdom,parentsacrosspartylinessharemanyofthesameconcernsandsupportthesamegoalstoimprovethelivesoffamiliesandchildren:high-qualityeducation,proactivegovernmentpoli-ciesandinvestmentsatthestateandfederallevels,andstrongerfamilies.Parentsandyoungpeoplealikebelievethatelectedleadersandpoliticiansarenotprioritizingpoliciesforkidsandteenagersenoughandshouldinvestmoreinkidsandfamilies.Thenationisdivided,butparentsacrossthepoliticalspectrumsharealotofcommongroundonthepracticalpath-waysthroughourchallenges.

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KeyFindings

1.TheGenerationGapThatIsn't.

Parents,aswellaskidsandteenagers,thinkthatthingsarenotgoingwellforAmericanfamiliesrightnow,with58%ofparentsand61%ofkidsandteenssayingthingsaregoingjustfairorpoorforfamiliesliketheirs.Buttheyaremorehopefulandpositivethanconcernedandnegativewhentheylooktothefuture.Whenthinkingaboutthefutureforkids,thetopemotionthatparentsfeelis"hopeful"(49%),andthetopemo-tionsthatkidsandteensfeelwhentheythinkabouttheirfutureare"hopeful"(44%)and"excited"(42%).

FIGURE1.Percentofparentsandyouthwhothinkthingsaregoingpoororjustfairforfamiliesliketheirs

Parents16%42%58%

27%34%61%

Kids&

Teens

PoorJustfair

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2.LostGround:ParentsPerceiveaDeclineinChildren'sResilienceandWell-Being.

Parentsseedeteriorationinmarkersofwell-beingforkidsandteenagerscomparedto20yearsago.Parentsthink

today'skidsandteensaredoingworsethanchildrenwere

20yearsagointheirabilitytoberesilientinthefaceof

adversity(52%worseoff),theirabilitytobeindependentandself-sufficient(55%worseoff),thefoodstheytypicallyeat

(53%worseoff),theairandwaterquality(60%worseoff),

andtheamountofphysicalexercisetheyget(64%worseoff).Parentsalsothinktoday'schildrenlagbehindchildren20

yearsagowhenitcomestothevaluesandmoralstheyare

taught(61%worseoff).Parentswhosechildrenare18or

olderaremorelikelythanparentsofchildrenunderage18tothinkthattoday'schildrenareworseoffintheseareas.

FIGURE2.Percentofparentswhothinkchildrentodayaredoingworsethanchildrenwere20yearsagowithrespectto:

Theamountofphysicalexercisetheyget31%33%64%

Thevaluesandmoralstheyaretaught31%31%61%

Thefoodstheytypicallyeat24%29%53%

Theairandwaterquality23%37%60%

Abilitytobeindependentandself-sufficient21%34%55%

Abilitytoberesilientinthefaceofadversity19%33%52%

MuchworseoffSomewhatworseoff

Note:Resultsmaynotaddto100%duetoroundingormultipleresponses.

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3.AmericanDreamsDeferred.

Parentsfeelstrongeconomicpressurestoday,with73%ofparentsconcernedaboutchildren'sfutureeconomicopportu-nities,and39%ofparentswithchildrenunder18sayingithasbecomehardertoaffordthethingstheyneedfortheirchil-drencomparedtolastyear.Whentheylookahead,twocriticaleconomicagendaitemsemergefortheirchildren:educationandcostofhousing.Parentsarenotconfidentthattoday'schildrenwillbeabletoaffordhousing(66%areonlyalittleornotatallconfident)andpost-highschooleducation(62%areonlyalittleornotatallconfident)inthefuture.

FIGURE3.Percentofparentswhoarenotconfidentthatchildrengrowinguptodaywillbeableto:

...affordahouse

...affordacollegeeducationorjobtrainingafterhighschool

66%

40%26%

34%27%62%

NotconfidentatallAlittleconfident

Note:Resultsmaynotaddto100%duetoroundingormultipleresponses.

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4.ASilentEmergencySpeaks.

Thementalhealthcrisisisurgent,andyoungpeopleinsistthataddressingitmustbeatoppriority.Amajorityofparents(54%)andtwo-thirdsofkidsandteenagers(67%)believethementalhealthofchildrenintheircommunitiesisjustfairorpoor.Parentsaswellaskidsandteenspointtosocialmedia(parents:28%;kidsandteens:27%)andlackofparentalsupportandinvolvement(parents:20%;kidsandteens:16%)asprimedriversofthiscrisis.Parents(48%)andkidsandteens(54%)feelthatschoolsarenotdoingenoughtosupportstu-dents'mentalhealthandwell-being.Parentsseeanacuteneedformorementalhealthservicesinandoutofschools:56%believeitisveryimportanttoexpandtheavailabilityofmentalhealthservicesoutsideofschools,and55%believeitisveryimportanttoexpandtheavailabilityofmentalhealthservicesinschools.

FIGURE4.Percentofparentsandyouthwhoratethementalhealthofchildrenintheircommunityasjustfairorpoor

67%

Justfair/Poor

54%

Kids&TeensParents

FIGURE5.Percentofparentsandyouthwhofeelthatschoolsintheircommunityaredoingtoolittletosupportstudents'mentalhealthandwell-being

54%

Toolittle

48%

Kids&TeensParents

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5.Tech'sTwoFaces:ParentsAreWaryasKidsandTeensSpotSilverLinings.

Familiesworrythattechnology'sgriponteenagersimpactstheirmentalhealth,andparents'concernsaremoreacute.

Overhalf(53%)ofparentsthinkkidswouldbemuchbetteroffwithlesssocialmediaandsmartphoneuse.Thatsaid,kidsandteensshowthemostdivergencefromparentsintheiratti-tudestowardsocialmediaandAI.Abouttwo-thirds(64%)ofparentsthinksocialmediahashadamostlynegativeinfluenceonkidsandteens,whilekidsandteensleantowardthinkingtheinfluencehasbeenmorepositive(40%)thannegative(33%).AndwhilekidsandteensthinkAIprogramswillhaveapositiveimpactontheirlearninginschool(48%)andseetheshort-term(46%)andlong-term(46%)impactsofAIonsocietyasmorehelpfulthanharmful,parentsaremoremixed.Forty-threepercentofparentsthinkAIprogramswillhaveanegativeimpactonchildren'slearninginschool,and39%thinkAIwillhaveapositiveimpact.Similarly,parentsaresplitonAIhelping(43%)orhurting(40%)societyintheshortterm,andinthelongterm(42%help,43%hurt).

FIGURE6.Percentofparentsandyouthwhosaytheinfluenceofsocialmediaismostlypositiveormostlynegative

Parents64%24%

33%40%

Kids&

Teens

NegativePositive

FIGURE7.PercentofparentsandyouthwhosaytheimpactAIprogramswillhaveonachild'slearninginschoolispositiveornegative

Parents43%39%

Kids&31%48%

Teens

NegativePositive

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6.UnitedinUrgencyandDistrust.

Parentsinbothpoliticalpartieswantthegovernmenttoplayaroleinsupportingyoungpeopleandprioritizingfamilypoli-cies.Despitepoliticaldivisions,theresearchrevealsstrikingcommonground:83%ofparentsbelievethefederalgovern-mentshouldprioritizepoliciesthatbenefityoungpeople.Majoritiesacrosspoliticalpartiesagree:88%ofRepublicans,83%ofDemocrats,and75%ofindependentsthinkthefederalgovernmentshouldplaceapriorityonmakingpoliciesthatbenefityoungerpeople.Yetfamiliesshareaprofoundcrisisoftrustingovernmentinstitutions:61%ofparentsand61%ofkidsandteenagersfeeltheirvoices"donotmatter"inpolicydecisions.Acrosspartyidentification,parentsbelievethattheirvoicesdonotmatter,withindependentparentsfeelingespeciallyvoicelessatthelocallevel(72%saidtheirvoicedoesnotmatterindecisionsmadebylocalgovernment).Thisdemo-craticemergencytranscendspartisandivides,asfamiliesacrossthespectrumexpressdoubtthatleaderswilldeliverforthenextgeneration.Two-thirdsormoreofDemocratic(68%),Republican(66%),andindependentparents(75%)donotthinkfederalpoliticiansandelectedofficialsreflecttheneeds,desires,andexperiencesofyoungpeopleinthiscountrywell.

FIGURE8.Percentofparentsandyouthwhosaythe(federal)government...

83%

...shouldmakepoliciesthatbenefit

80%

youngerpeopleinthiscountrya"top"priorityor"somewhatofa"priority

47%

...willmakepoliciesthatbenefit

38%

youngerpeopleinthiscountrya"top"priorityor"somewhatofa"priority

ParentsKids&Teens

FIGURE9.Percentofparentsandyouthwhofeeltheirvoicedoesnotmatterindecisionsmadebythe(federal/theirlocal)government(*splitsampled)

Parents(federalgoverment*)

Parents(localgoverment*)

Kids&Teens

25%

61%

35%

27%

60%

33%

23%61%

38%

DoesnotmatteratallMattersalittle

Note:Parentswerespecificallyaskedaboutthe"federalgovernment."Youthwereaskedabout"government"generally.Resultsmaynotaddto100%duetoroundingormultipleresponses.

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7.TrustGap:YouthandParentsSplitonTrump'sImpact.

WhensurveyedinearlyJanuary,beforePresidentTrumptookoffice,parentsrespondedmorepositivelythannega-tivelywhenaskedhowthenewadministrationunderPresidentTrumpwillaffectyoungpeopleandfamiliesliketheirs.Therearepartisandifferencesamongparents.Kidsandteenagersaremorereserved.Abouthalfofparentsthinkthenewadministrationwillhaveapositiveimpactonthelivesofyoungpeopleandfamilies(52%)andonthelivesoffamiliesliketheirs(51%).Thereispolarizationbypartyidentification.Republicanparentsoverwhelminglyanticipateapositiveimpactonthelivesofyoungpeopleandfamilies(78%)andonthelivesoffamiliesliketheirs(82%).Independentparentsthinktherewillbeapositiveimpactonthelivesofyoungpeopleandfamilies(53%),butaresplitontheimpactonfami-liesliketheirs(36%negative,33%positive).Democraticparentsthinktheimpactwillbenegativeonthelivesofyoungpeopleandfamilies(69%)andonthelivesoffamiliesliketheirs(59%).

Comparedtoparents,kidsandteenssplitmoreevenlybetweenthenewadministrationhavingapositiveornegativeimpactonthelivesofyoungpeopleandfamilies(43%positive,37%negative)andonthelivesoffamiliesliketheirs(41%posi-tive,39%negative).

FIGURE10.PercentofparentsandyouthwhoratetheimpacttheythinkthenewadministrationunderPresidentTrumpwillhaveonthelivesofyoungpeopleandfamiliesoronfamiliesliketheirsaspositive(*splitsampled)

52%

...ofyoungpeopleandfamilies?*

43%

51%

...offamilieslikeyours?*

41%

Parents–%PositiveKids&Teens–%Positive

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8.Education:TheCommonGroundSolution.

ParentsseeeducationasthekeytoimprovingthelivesofAmericanchildren.WhenaskedwhattheywouldrecommenddoingtoimprovethelivesofAmericanchildren,parents'topvolunteeredresponseisimprovingorreformingeducation,includingpost-secondaryeducation(30%).Over8in10parentsbelievethatbetterK–12publicschools(86%)andfreepreschoolforyoungchildren(82%)wouldmakethelivesofAmerica'schildrenbetteroff.

FIGURE11.Percentofparentswhosaythemost

importantthingtheywouldrecommenddoingtoimprovethelivesofAmerica'schildrenisimprove/reformeducation

30%

Improve/reform

education

(includingcollege)

FIGURE12.Percentofkidsandteenswhosaythemostimportantthingtheywouldrecommenddoingtoimprovethelivesofkidslikethemisimprove/reformeducation

28%

Improve/reform

education

(includingcollege)

FIGURE13.PercentofparentswhothinkbetterK–12publicschoolsorfreepreschoolforyoungchildrenwouldmakethelivesofAmericanchildrenbetteroff

BetterK-12publicschools

Freepreschoolforyoungchildren

56%29%86%

48%33%82%

MuchbetteroffSomewhatbetteroff

Note:Resultsmaynotaddto100%duetoroundingormultipleresponses.

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9.FoundationsFirst:HowParentsandYouthDefineStrongFamilies.

Healthyfamilyrelationshipsandstablecommunitiesemergeastopprioritiesforparentsaswellaskidsandteenagers.Inadditiontoqualityeducation(31%),parentsbelievethatfami-liesarestrongwhentheyhavebasicneedsmetortheirincomeiskeepingupwithcosts(27%),includingaffordablehousing(23%),affordablehealthcare(22%),andgood-payingjobswithbenefitslikehealthcareandvacation(25%),aswellaswhentheyprioritizevalueslikeputtingGodfirst(27%)andchildrenbeingraisedbyafatherandamother(27%).Kids'andteens'mostimportantelementsforstrongfamiliesareparentswholistentotheirkids(42%saythismakesfamiliesstrong)andwhoaccepttheirchildrennomatterwhat(29%).

FIGURE14.Percentofparentswhosaythefollowingmakesfamiliesstrong:

Qualityeducationforchildren

Havingbasicneedsmet/Incomekeepingupwithcosts

Childrenbeingraisedbyafatherandamother

PuttingGodfirst

Goodpayingjobswithbenefitslikehealthcareandvacation

Accesstoaffordablehousing

Affordablehealthcare

27%

27%

27%

25%

23%

22%

31%

FIGURE15.Percentofkidsandteenswhosaythefollowingmakesfamiliesstrong:

Parentswholistentotheirkids

42%

Parentsacceptingtheirchildrenno

matterwhat

29%

PuttingGodfirst

25%

Childrenbeingraisedbyafather

andamother

21%

Havingbasicneedsmet/Income

keepingupwithrisingcosts

19%

Goodpayingjobswithbenefits

likehealthcareandvacation

18%

Qualityeducationforchildren

18%

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10.ACalltoGovernmentAction.

ParentsarestronglyalignedongovernmentsolutionsthattheybelievewillimprovethelivesofAmericanchildren.

Three-quartersormoreofparentssayapaidfamily,parental,andmedicalleaveprogramforworkerswhoneedtoprovideshort-termcareforfamilymembers,likechildren,wouldmakethelivesofAmericanchildrenbetter(81%saymuchorsome-whatbetteroff),aswellasmoretaxcreditsforprogramsthatsupportfamilies(77%muchorsomewhat),andmoregovern-mentfundingtohelpparentsaffordchildcareandafter-schoolprograms(76%muchorsomewhat).

FIGURE16.Percentofparentswhosayapaidfamily,

parental,andmedicalleaveprogramforworkerswho

needtoprovideshort-termcareforfamilymembers,

likechildren,wouldmakethelivesofAmerica'schildrenbetteroff

19%

Worseoff/notsure

81%

Much/somewhat

betteroff

FIGURE17.Percentofparentswhosaymoretaxcreditsforprogramsthatsupportfamilieswouldmakethelivesof

America'schildrenbetteroff

23%

Worseoff/notsure

77%

Much/somewhat

betteroff

FIGURE18.Percentofparentswhosaymore

governmentfundingtohelpparentsaffordchildcareandafter-schoolprogramswouldmakethelivesof

America'schildrenbetteroff

24%

Worseoff/notsure

76%

Much/somewhat

betteroff

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11.DigitalSafety:ACross-GenerationalCallforChange.

Parentsaswellaskidsandteenagersoverwhelminglysupportsocialmediaregulationsthatwouldprotectyoungpeople.Byextremelywidemargins,parentsaswellaskidsandteensfavorrequiringplatformstodisplaywarninglabelsabouttheirpotentialriskstochildren'sandteens'mentalhealthandwell-being(81%ofparentsfavor;72%ofkidsandteensfavor).Parentsoverwhelminglysupportrequiringageverificationandblockingsocialmediaaccountsforanyoneunder16,with83%infavor.Althoughsupportisloweramongkidsandteens,amajority(54%)stillbacktheidea.

FIGURE19.Percentofparentsandyouthwhofavorrequiringsocialmediaplatformstodisplaywarninglabelsabouttheirpotentialriskstochildren'sandteens'mentalhealthandwell-being

81%

Parents47%34%

Kids&Teens

36%36%72%

StronglyfavorSomewhatfavor

FIGURE20.Percentofparentsandyouthwhofavorrequiringsocialmediacompaniestoverifyusers'agesandpreventanyoneunder16fromhavingaccounts

83%

Parents54%28%

26%27%54%

Kids&Teens

StronglyfavorSomewhatfavor

Note:Results

maynotaddto100%duetoroundingormultipleresponses.

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SentimentsonthePresentandFutureforAmericanFamilies

Whenaskedtothinkabouthowthingsaregoingforfamiliesliketheirs,parentsalongwithkidsandteenagersfeelthatthingsarenotgoingwellrightnow.Amajority(58%)ofparentssaythingsaregoingjustfair(42%)orpoor(16%)forfamiliesliketheirstoday,and61%ofkidsandteenssaythingsaregoingjustfair(34%)orpoor(27%)forkidsandteensinAmericatoday.Kidsandteenagersareevenmorepessimisticthanparents,withonly4%sayingthingsaregoingexcellently,comparedto10%ofparents.

Younger¹andolder²dadsandmomsthinkthingsaregoingjustfairorpoorforfamiliesliketheirstoday.Oldermoms(67%)andolderdads(60%)areespeciallylikelytosaythingsaregoingjustfairorpoor.While61%ofAsianAmericanandPacificIslanderparentsand53%ofBlackparentssaythingsaregoingexcellentorgood,bycontrast,63%ofWhiteparentsand55%ofLatinoparentssaythingsaregoingjustfairorpoor.

AsianAmericanandPacificIslanderboys³(46%)andboyswholiveinurbanareas(43%)standoutasbeingthemostlikelytothinkthingsaregoingexcellentorgoodforkidsandteenagersinAmericatoday.

Lookingaheadtothefuture,parentsaswellaskidsandteen-agersaremoreoptimisticthanpessimisticinanumberofareas.Whengivenalistoffeelingsandaskedhowtheyfeelaboutthefutureforkids,parentsmostoftensaytheyfeelhopeful(49%),followedbyamixofpositiveandnegativefeelings:anxious(33%),excited(26%),stressed(23%),andhappy(22%).Kidsandteensshareparents'hopefulness,with44%sayingtheyfeelhopefulabouttheirfutureand42%feelingexcited.Thatsaid,likeparents,theyexpressamixofnegativeandpositivefeelingsaswell:32%ofkidsandteensfeelanxious,27%feelhappy,and18%feelstressedabouttheirfutures.

Moms,dads,andparentsacrossrace/ethnicitysharepositivefeelingsaboutthefutureforkids,with"hopeful"beingthemostcommonsentimentamongthesesubgroups.However,youngermoms(38%)andoldermoms(41%)aremorelikelythanyoungerandolderdads(27%each)tosaytheyfeelanxiousaswell.Whitemoms,inparticular,aresplitbetweenfeelinghopeful(43%)andanxious(44%).

Mostsubgroupsofkidsandteenagerssaytheirtopfeelingsaboutthefuturearehopefulandexcited.Afewgroupsarejustaslikelytofeelanxious:17-year-olds,girlsage15to17,Latinagirls,12-to14-year-oldLatinokidsandteens,Southerngirls,andruralgirls.Kidsandteenswhoplantoattendatwo-yearcollegeorjointhemilitary4afterhighschoolareaboutaslikelytofeelhopefulastheyaretofeelanxious.

Whileparentsfeelpessimisticabouttheircurrentsituation,theythinktheirchildre