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1Ipsos MORI | State of the Nation: Understanding Public Attitudes to the Early Years
STATE OF THE NATION: UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO THE EARLY YEARSEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Ipsos MORI | State of the Nation: Understanding Public Attitudes to the Early Years 2
Foreword 41. Introduction 62. Summaryoffindings 83. Conclusions 184. References 20
CONTENTS
3Ipsos MORI | State of the Nation: Understanding Public Attitudes to the Early Years
The primary research, analysis and reporting was conducted by Ipsos MORIThereportwritingteamwasledbyKellyBeaverandconsistedofSarahKnibbs, SylvieHobdenandJulietteAlbone.ThewiderIpsosMORIresearchteamincludedOliverSweet,JessicaLong,LucyEvans,LucyLindleyandGaryWelch.
TheRoyalFoundationofTheDukeandDuchessofCambridgeprovidedvaluedassistanceandadvicethroughouttheresearchprogramme.
IpsosMORIwouldliketothankinparticularAidaCable,CarolineHopkins, ImogenHirschandRachelMoriarty.
TheinvaluablesupportandgenerosityofKindred2enabledthisresearch tobeconducted.
TheDuchessofCambridge’sEarlyYearsSteeringGroup
MembersofTheDuchessofCambridge’sEarlyYearsSteeringGroupprovidedexpertadvicetoinformtheresearchdesignandinterpretationofthedata.
TheresearchteamaregratefultoProfessorJaneBarlow,NaomiEisenstadtCB,ProfessorLeonFeinstein,ProfessorPeterFonagyOBE,DrAlainGregoire,ProfessorEamonMcCrory,andEdVainker.
Research participants Finally,theresearchteamwouldliketoextendparticularthankstothemanypeoplewhogaveuptheirtimetoparticipateinthesurveys,thequalitativeresearchandthe5BigQuestions.Thisresearchwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttheirthoughtfulinput.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Our future will be shaped by what we do todaySciencetellsusthatachild’sexperiencesfromconceptionthroughtheirfirstfiveyearswillgoontoshapetheirnext50.Ittellsusthatthekindofchildrenweraisetoday,willreflectthekindofworldwewillliveintomorrow.Ittellsusthatinvestinginthestartof lifeisnotanindulgence,buteconomically,sociallyandpsychologicallyvitaltoaprosperoussociety.
OverthelastnineyearsTheDuchessofCambridgehasheardthisfirst-handfromthosewhoaretacklingsomeofsociety’stoughestchallenges.Shehasseenoverandoveragainhowoftenproblemscanbetracedbacktotheearliestyearsofsomeone’slifeandithasbecomeherambitiontobringaboutchangeinthisarea.
But change can only be achieved together ThisreportrepresentstheviewsofalmosthalfamillionpeoplefromacrosstheUnitedKingdom,makingitthelargestpublicstudyeverconductedontheearlyyears.Compiledthroughqualitativeethnographicresearch,nationallyrepresentativesurveys,anopenonlinequestionnaireandadedicatedsurveywhichexplorestheimpactsofCOVID-19onparents,itprovidesanunrivalledinsightintopublicattitudestowardsthiscrucialtopicandlaysthegroundworkforaction.
Andactioniswhatweneed.Withinthesepageslietheopportunitiesandobstacleswhichwemustcollectivelyembraceifwearetogiveeverychildinthiscountrythe verybestoddsinlife,oddsthatthepublicthinkwehavearealcapacitytoinfluence,since98%placeatleastequalimportanceontheroleofnurtureaswellasnatureon achild’soutcomes.
Todososuccessfully,wemustmakeourreasoningclear.Asitstands,onlyoneinfourpeoplerecognisethespecificimportanceoftheperiodfromconceptionto5insecuringhealthandhappinessinadulthood.Yetweknowthatgapsinachievementatschoolentrymakeupasizableshareoflaterachievementgaps;justoneofthelifelonggenerationalinequalitiesthatcouldbeavoidedwiththerightintervention.
Thequalityoftherelationshipsthatsurroundchildren,inadditiontoessentialslikegoodnutritionandasafeenvironment,isthereforekeytobuildingthefoundationsoffuturesuccess.When90%ofpeopleinourstudycitedparentalmentalhealthandwellbeingasacriticalfactorinachild’sdevelopment,theymadethatsimplepoint:thatsupportingthechildstartswithsupportingtheadult.
FOREWORD
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Supportisthekeyword,becauseitcanbehardforparentstodoitalone.Ourresearchshowsthatonly10%ofexpectantparentsmentionedtakingtimetolookafterthemselvesbeforetheirbabyarrived,whileathirdexpecttheCOVID-19pandemictohaveanegativeimpactontheirlong-termwellbeing.
So how can we help? Well,itstartswithkeepinganopenmind.Ahighnumberofparents,70%,admittedtofeelingjudgedbyothers,with48%sayingthishadtakenanemotionaltoll.Weabsolutelywantsocietytofeelinvolvedinthecollectivenurturingofthenextgeneration,butit’simportantthatwemakethisapositivemission,givingparentsencouragementinplaceofcritique.
Forweknowthatthelastyearhasplacedanenormousstrainonthosesourcesofencouragement.Parentsreportthattheyrelymostoftenonthebackingoftheirfamilyandfriends,yettheglobalpandemichasforcedusintosilosofisolation.Parentallonelinesshasrocketedfrom38%to63%andthepercentageofthosewhofeeluncomfortableaskingforhelphasdoubled.
Mostconcerningly,thisimpacthasbeengreatestonthoselivingthehardestlives,withresponsesfromthoseindeprivedareasconsistentlyshowinghigherlevelsoflonelinessandlesslikelytohaveexperiencedanincreaseincommunitysupport.
Buttherehavebeentriumphs.Wehaveseenpeoplealloverthecountrywhohavecometogether,whohavelentahand,helpedwiththeshopping,sharedasmile.
Todaythereishopeofanendtothiscrisis,butifwecanretainonething,letitbethatspirit.Becauseifweallplayourparttoaddressparents’feelingsofinsecurityandloneliness,buildtheirconfidenceandknowledgeandcreatenetworksoftrustedsupport,thenwewillgoalongwaytobuildingahappier,healthiersociety.
OnbehalfofTheRoyalFoundation,IwouldliketoexpressmysincerethankstoKindred2 formakingthisreportpossibleandtothepeopleacrosstheUnitedKingdomwhohavegenerouslygivenuptheirtimeandsharedtheirviews.
Tothosewhoareabouttobrowsethroughitspages,Ihopeyouwilljoinusinraisingthisissuetotheplaceitbelongs:rightattheforefrontofsociety’sconsciousness.
Jason Knauf CEO,TheRoyalFoundation
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1.
This report sets out the findings from the most comprehensive study of attitudes towards bringing up children from conception to 5 years ever undertaken in the UK. Thousands of parents and non-parents have participated to help shed light on how we approach the early years of life for children in the UK.
1.1 Background and rationale for this programme of researchThefirstfiveyearsofchildhood,aremorepivotalfordevelopment,futurehealthandhappiness,thananyothersinglemomentinourlifetime.AspartofTheDuchessofCambridge’sworkontheseearlyyears,HerRoyalHighnessandTheRoyalFoundationconvenedaSteeringGroupcomprisingacademics,practitionersandcharities.
TheRoyalFoundationundertookarapidevidencereviewtoexploreexistingdatarelatingtopublicperceptionsoftheearlyyearsintheUnitedKingdom.Thisevidencereviewidentifiedarichbodyofresearchontheexperienceandbehavioursofparentsandfamiliesthroughouttheearlyyears,andonparentalattitudestowardsspecificpolicies.However,itfoundagapinknowledgeabouthowthisperiod,andtheroleofparentsthroughouttheseyears,areperceivedbyparentsandthegeneralpublic.Howpeopleviewthefirstfiveyearsoflifeisanimportantdeterminantoftheprioritytheearlyyearsaregivenbyparents,organisations,andwidersociety.
Respondingtothisevidencegap,TheRoyalFoundationcommissionedasubstantialpieceofsocialresearchin2019tounderstandtheUK’sperceptionsabouttheperiodfromconceptiontoage5(“theearlyyears”).Thisstudyaddressesanimportantknowledgegap:whatarepublicperceptionsoftheearlyyearsintheUK?
AswellasinformingTheRoyalFoundation’sownearlyyearsstrategy,wehopethatthisresearchwillbeusedwidelybyothers.Theambitionisfortheresearchtoprovidearobustbaselineunderstandingofattitudeswhichcanbeusedbyallthoseworkingin,orinterested,intheearlyyears.
1.2 Methodology Thestudymethodologyismixedmethods,withseveralsizeablequantitativesurveys (preandduringtheCOVID-19pandemic)alongsideobservationalandqualitative researchwithparentsandfamilies.Thisreportintegratesfindingsfromthefollowingstrandsofresearch:
INTRODUCTION
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Face-to-face survey(December2019-January2020): Anationallyrepresentativeface-to-facesurveytoproviderobust,reliableandrepresentativestatisticsontheviewsoftheUKpopulation.Intotal,3,733respondentswereinterviewedfacetoface.Toallowanalysisbynation,andbyparentsof0to5-year-olds,moreinterviewswerecarriedoutamongthesegroups.Findingsdiscussedthroughoutthisreportarefromthissurvey,unlessotherwisestated.
5 Big Questions (January21st-February21st,2020): Anextensivepublicsurveywithoverhalfamillionpeopleresponding;435,141ofwhichwerefromtheUK.*Anonlinequestionnairewassharedasanopen-link,soeveryonewaswelcometoprovideananswer.Theintentofthe‘5BigQuestions’wastosparkanationalconversationabouttheearlyyears.ThesurveyreceivedalargeresponsehoweveritwasnotintendedtoberepresentativeoftheUKpopulationasitsimplyreflectstheviewsofthosewhotookpart.Findingsfromthe5BigQuestionsareshowninblueboxesthroughoutthereport.
Explanatory qualitative research (February2020): In-depthqualitativeinterviewswith40parentsofa0to5-year-oldwhohadtakenpartintheface-to-facesurvey,andanonlinecommunity**toexplorefindingsinmoredepth.Findingsfromthisaspectoftheresearcharedescribedas‘conversationswithparents’throughoutthereport.
Observational research (September-October2019): “Ethnographicresearch”with12familiesand4communityleaderinterviews.Researchersimmersedthemselvesinthehomeenvironmentoffamilies,followingtheirdailyroutinestogainadetailedunderstandingoftheirattitudestobringingupchildren.Casestudiesfromthisstrandarepresentedthroughoutthefullreportingreyboxes.
Online survey (October2020): ThestrandsofresearchdescribedabovewereconductedbetweenSeptember2019andFebruary2020beforethecoronaviruspandemicintheUKandworldwide.Anonlinesurveyof1,000parentsof0-5swascarriedoutinOctober2020toidentifyanychangesinparents’experiencesofthepreceding6months,whentheCOVID-19pandemichasbeenaffectingeveryaspectoflifeintheUK.Reflectionsonparentattitudesovertheperiodofthepandemicareshowningreenboxes.
*UKresponseswereidentifiedusingIPaddress.Atotalof527,898completedthesurveyglobally
**Theonlinecommunitywasavirtualgroupofparentsdiscussingkeyissuesarisingfromthequantitativeresearch
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Thereisnowscientificconsensusthattheperiodfromconceptiontoage5iscriticalinprovidingthefoundationforfuturephysicalandmentalhealth,aswellasoverallwellbeingandproductivity.1Thisresearchrevealsadiscrepancybetweencurrentperceptionsamongparentsandthisscientificunderstanding.Equally,itshinesalightontheparticularchallenges,aswellasopportunities,thatmanyparentsfacetoday.Thesefindingshighlighttheneedforimprovedtranslationandincreasedaccessibilityofscientificresearchtoparents.Theyalsomakecleartheimportanceofcultivatingandsustaininggreatersupportnetworksforparentsandensuringparentsfeeltheyhaveaccesstoawiderangeoftrustedsourcesofsupport,particularlytoenhancetheirmentalhealthandwellbeing.Finally,theyraiseakeyquestionastohowsocietyasawholecanbemoresupportiveofparents,carersandfamiliesintheearlyyears.
Parents recognise that they play a key role in their child’s developmentParents’understandingofthenatureversusnurturedebate(i.e.whetherchildren’sdevelopmentispre-determinedbytheirgenesorwhethertheenvironmentinwhichtheygrowupdetermineshowtheydevelop)affectattitudesandbehavioursinbringingupchildren.Indeed,afatalisticbeliefthatthewaychildrenareatbirthdetermineshowtheydevelopcanaffecthowparentsinteractwiththeirchildren.Researchhasshownthatabeliefthattheonlyfactorwhichdeterminesachild’sdevelopmentaretheirgeneticscan,initself,adverselyaffectchilddevelopment.2
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS2.
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Positively,thevastmajorityofparentsrecognisethatchildren’sbrainsdonotdevelopindependentlyoftheirsurroundings.Almostnineinten(88%)parentsofa0to5-year-oldrecognisethatdevelopmentintheconceptiontoage5periodisinfluencedbytheenvironment(nurture).Just7%ofparentsholdthefatalisticbeliefthatachild’soutcomesarewhollypre-determinedbytheirgenetics(nature).
Reflectingparents’awarenessoftheirnurturingrole,theyrecognisetheimportanceofunderstandinghowchildren’sbrainsdevelop.Threeinfourparentsof0-5s(77%)reportedthatitisveryimportanttoknowwhataffectsthedevelopmentofchildren’sbrainsandmindsduringpregnancy,increasingto83%whothinkitisimportanttoknowaboutbrainandminddevelopmentwhenchildrenareaged0-5.
5 Big Questions insight Almostallparticipants(98%)believethattheexperiencesofachildintheearlyyears(i.e.nurture)influencehowachilddevelopsfromthestartofpregnancytoage5.Alargeproportion(42%)believethatnurture,ratherthannature,playstheprimaryroleindetermininglifelongoutcomes.
WhenaskedwhatismostimportantforchildrengrowingupintheUKtoliveahappyadultlife,themostimportantfactorfor60%ofrespondentswas“Goodphysicalandmentalhealth”.
The impact of COVID-19: Mostparents(63%)reportthattheyhavebeenabletospendmorequalitytimewiththeirchildovertheperiodoftheCOVID-19pandemictodate.Thevastmajorityoftheseparents(83%)saythattheyarelikelytocontinuetospendmorequalitytimewith their child in the future.
However,thispositiveexperienceisnotuniversal.Parentswhohaveexperiencedfinancialdifficultiesduringlockdownorwhodonotlivewithapartneraremorelikelythanaveragetosaytheyhavespentlessqualitytimewiththeirchildsincethestartoflockdown(13%and16%respectivelycomparedwith9%average).
Parents tend to underestimate the importance of the early yearsSciencetellsusirrefutablythattheconceptiontoage5periodiscrucial.Throughoutthisperiodthebrainisdevelopingrapidly.Ourexperienceslaydownthefoundationsoftheskills,knowledgeandconfidencethathelpusnavigatefuturechallengesandrealiseourfullpotential.Thismeanschildrenintheearlyyearsareespeciallysensitivetoinfluencesthatpromotetheacquisitionofperceptual,motor,cognitive,language,social,andself-regulationskills.3Whenchildrendonotexperienceadequatecareandattention(andlove),thiscanleadtopooroutcomes,includingphysicalandmental
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healthproblemsinlaterlife.4Forexample,thereisnowaconsiderablebodyofresearchontheadverseimpactofneglectonthearchitectureofthedevelopingbrain.5
However,ourresearchshowsthatrecognitionoftheimportanceoftheearlyyearsisfarfromuniversal.Evenamongparentsofa0to5-year-old,recognitionofthefirstfiveyearsasbeingmostimportantforhealthandhappinessinadulthoodislow,with31%statingthatthisisthemostimportantdevelopmentalperiod.*Thismeansthat7in10parentsofa0to5-year-old(69%)arenotalignedwiththescientificconsensus6 that the conception toage5periodiscriticalinprovidingthefoundationofhealthandhappiness.
Furthermore,parentsunderestimatetheimportanceoftheconceptionto18monthsperiodinparticular.Scientificevidenceshowsthatbraindevelopmentduringthistimeisfasterthananyotherperiodofdevelopment.6However,justoveroneinthreeparents(36%)doesnotrecognisethatthebraindevelopsfastestintheconceptiontotwoyearsperiod,andoneinfourparents(24%)doesnotrecognisethatwhatparentsdobetweenbirthand18monthshasalargeimpactontheirchild’sfuture.
Ourconversationswithparentssuggestthatakeywayinwhichtheyjudgebraindevelopmentisbyobservingvisiblechangesintheirchild’sbehaviour.Therefore,thefactthatsomeaspectsofdevelopmentareharderto‘recognise’orobserve,leadsparentstounderappreciatethespeedatwhichtheirchildisdeveloping,particularlyuntilthechildis18monthsold.ThischallengeisnotspecifictoparentsintheUK.Forexample,inastudyofhowAlbertansinCanadaconceiveofchilddevelopment,akeyfindingwasthattheprocessbywhichthebraindevelopedthroughoutchildhoodremained“shroudedinmystery”.7Ourconversationswithparentsalsorevealedanissuewiththeterminologyused.Theterm“brainandminddevelopment”ledtoconceptionsofapurelybiological,“black-box”processwhichisoutofthecontrolofparents.Thissuggeststhatthelanguagemayneedclarifyinginordertomakeclearerhowthewaythatthebraindevelopsisrelatedtoachild’severydayexperiencesandsocialrelationships.
5 Big Questions insight Justoneinfour(24%)participantsrecognisethespecificimportanceofthe0-5periodforprovidinglifelonghealthandhappiness.Instead,mostparticipants(57%)perceiveallperiodsofachild’slifetobeequallyimportantforhealthandhappinessinadulthood.
The impact of COVID-19: Relativelyfewparentsofchildrenagedbetween0and5(11%)thinkthattheCOVID-19pandemicwillhaveanegativeimpactonthebrainandminddevelopmentoftheirchild.Parentskeyconcernsrelatetothelackofsocialisationwithotherchildren(88%)andadults(56%)andspendingtoomuchtimeinside(56%).
Incontrast,44%thinkthattheirchild’sbrainandminddevelopmentwillbebetterduetothepandemic,citingincreasedtimespentlearning(73%),playing(68%)andtalking(65%)withtheirchild.Notably,parentswhoseworkinghourshavereducedsincethestartofthepandemicaremorelikelytothinkthattheirchild’sdevelopmentwillimprovethanotherparents(47%comparedwith40%).
*Thisfindingistakenfromtheonlinesurveyof1,000parentsof0-5yearoldswhichtookplaceinOctober2020.
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Parents find it difficult to prioritise their own wellbeingWhenparentsprovidesupporttotheirchildren(suchasemotionalsupportandintellectualstimulation),notonlyarethechildrenthemselvesenriched,butsocietybenefitsfromtheirchild’scontributionsasadults(suchaseconomicallyandsocially).8
The impact of COVID-19: Overathird(37%)thinkthattheCOVID-19pandemicwillhaveanegativeimpactontheirlong-termmentalhealth.Women(40%)andthosewhohaveexperiencedfinancialdifficultiesduringthepandemic(43%)areparticularlylikelytoreportanegativeimpact.
Mostparentsworkhardtoprovidepositiveexperiencesfortheirchildrenandenjoyspendingtimewiththemandseeingthemdevelop.However,parentsfacejugglingpriorities,conflictingdemandsontheirtime,stressandexhaustion.Studieshaveshownthatwhenparentsfeelexhausted,thiscanimpacttheirownpersonalwellbeingandinextremecircumstancescanleadtoparentalburnout,whichisharmfulforboththeparent and child.9Evidencealsosuggeststhatparentalstresslevelscanimpactachild’sdevelopment.Forexample,astudybyMoralesandGuerra10demonstratedacorrelationbetweencumulativestressexperiencedbyparentsandtheloweracademicachievementof children.
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Supporting the child starts with supporting the adultParentsrecognisetheimportanceofmaintainingtheirownwellbeing.Thevastmajorityofparentsofa0to5-year-old(93%)agreelookingafterthemselvesisimportantforthehealthandhappinessoftheirchild.However,inreality,manyparentsareunderhugeamountsofpressure,withalmostthreeinfourparentsofa0to5-year-old(73%)reportingthatbeingaparentisstressfulorverystressful.Themostfrequentlymentionedchallengesofbeingaparenttoachildofthisageincludebalancingworkdemands(45%),feelingtired(22%),thedemandsofdomesticchores(22%)andthedemandsofotherchildren(17%).
Againstthischallengingbackdrop,parentsofa0to5-year-oldaremorelikelytoputtheneedsoftheirchildrenbeforetheirown.Forexample,whenexpectingtheirfirstchild,only10%ofexpectantparentsreporttakingtimetolookaftertheirownphysicalormentalwell-being.Furthermore,almostoneinfiveparentsofa0to5-year-old(18%)wouldfeeluncomfortableseekinghelpandsupportforhowtheywerefeeling,comparedwithjust8%whowouldfeeluncomfortableseekinghelpandsupportforhowtheirchildwasfeeling.
5 Big Questions insight Thevastmajorityofrespondentsstronglyagree(90%)thatthementalhealth andwellbeingofparentsandcarershasagreatimpactonthedevelopmentof theirchild(ren).
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Feelings of judgement have a huge impact on both parents and their children.
Feelingjudgedhasthepotentialtoimpactparents’mentalhealth,whichevidencehasshowntoimpairchildren’sdevelopment.11Giventhesedetrimentaloutcomes,feelingsofjudgementexperiencedbyparentsposearealrisktochildren’sdevelopment.
Seveninten(70%)parentsofa0to5-year-oldsaytheyfeeljudgedbyothers.Amongnon-parents,sixinten(64%)admitthattheyjudgeotherparents.Overathirdofparents(35%)feeljudgedbasedonhowtheirchildbehaves,orhowtheychoosetomanagetheirchild’sbehaviour(36%).Aquarter(25%)feeltheyarebeingjudgedforbeingtoolenientornotstrictenough.Asaconsequenceoffeelingjudged,almosthalfofparents(48%)reportanemotionaltoll.Ofthoseparentswhofeeljudged,17%reportaloweringofself-esteemorincreaseinself-doubt,13%reportfeelinginadequateorlikeafailureand10%reportfeelingsadorunhappy.
Furthermore,conversationswithparentssuggestthattheimpactofjudgementcanleadparentstochangetheirbehaviour.Forexample,15%ofparentsreportthatthefearoffeelingjudgedmakesitdifficulttoaskforhelpandsupportfortheirchildifneeded.
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Support networks are crucial for parentsStudiesindicatethatparentswhoaccesshelpandsupport(forexampleparentingprogrammes)arelesslikelytoreporthighlevelsofstress.12Wherethissupport isnotavailablehowever,theresultantstressmaynegativelyaffectparents’mentalhealthandinturn,theirchildren’sdevelopment.13Furthermore,evidenceshowsthatthosewithsmallersupportnetworksaremorelikelytofeellonelyandlonelinessisassociatedwithpoorermentalandphysicalhealthoutcomes.14Therefore,ensuringparentshaveaccesstoawiderangeoftrustedsourcesofsupport,withoutfearofjudgement,isvitalfortheearlydevelopmentofchildrenaswellasmaintainingparents’ownwellbeing.
Forms of and breadth of supportParentsofchildrenaged0-5reportedneedinghelpandsupportforawiderangeofissuesincludingchildhealth(38%),nutrition(33%),behaviour(24%)andsleep(20%).Howeveralmostoneinfive(18%)reportthattheyhavetwoorfewerpeoplethattheycanturntolocallyforsupportifneeded.Athirdoftheseparents(33%)reportthatthenumberofpeopleintheirnetworkhasdecreasedsincetheyhavehadchildren.Thishighlightsthepotentialvulnerabilityofmanyparentsattimesofstress.
Parentswithsmallnetworksreportbeinglesslikelytoturntobothformalandinformalsourcesofsupportforhowtheyarefeeling.Forexample,theywouldbelesslikelythanthosewithlargernetworkstoturntotheirownparents(31%comparedwith36%)ortohealthcareprofessionals(30%comparedwith43%)thanthosewhoreporthavingalargernetwork.
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Furthermore,thosewithasmallnetworkaremorelikelythanthosewithalargenetworktosaythattheywouldhavenowheretogo(6%comparedwith1%)orthattheywouldn’tknowwheretogo(7%comparedwith4%)forsupportwithhowtheyarefeeling.Thosewithasmallnetworkaremorelikelythanthosewithalargenetworktofeellonelyatleastsomeofthetime(27%comparedwith17%).
The impact of COVID-19: Parentallonelinesshasdramaticallyincreasedduringthepandemicfrom38%beforeto63%asparentshavebeencutofffromfriendsandfamily.Thisincreaseinlonelinessforparentsismoreapparentinthemostdeprivedareas;theseparentsaremorethantwiceaslikelyasthoselivingintheleastdeprivedareastosaytheyfeellonelyoftenoralways(13%comparedwith5%).
Trusted sources of supportWhenunpromptedparentsaremostlikelytomentionfamilyandfriendsastrustedsourcesofsupportforbringinguptheirchild.Mentionsincludetheirownparents(57%),theirchild’sotherparent(52%)andclosefriends(47%).SupportfromhealthcareprofessionalsincludingGPsanddoctors(42%),healthvisitors(39%)andtheNHSwebsite(38%)followcloselybehind.Specifically,whenparentsthinkabouthelpfortheirchild’sphysicalgrowthanddevelopmenttheyaremostlikelytomentionaGP(59%),healthvisitor(35%)ortheirownparents(20%).WhenthinkingabouthelpforhowtheirchildisfeelingtheyarealsomostlikelytomentionaGP(34%),healthvisitor(24%)ortheirownparents(26%).WhenitcomestoseekinghelpforhowtheyarefeelingasaparenttheyaremostlikelytomentionaGP(40%),butmorelikelytomentiontheirownparents(35%)thanahealthvisitor(18%).
Arangeofothersourcesoftrustedsupportarementionedbysmallernumbersofparentsoftheunder5s.Theseincludechildren’scentres(18%),internetsearches(15%),localparentingsupportgroups(15%),parentandchildgroups(11%)andparentingblogsorwebsites(11%).
The impact of COVID-19: DuringtheCOVID-19pandemic,parentswereparticularlylikelytoreportthat theywouldturntotheNHSwebsiteforinformationtheycouldtrustaboutbringinguptheirchildren(47%).Positivelytheproportionofparentswhosaidtheywouldspeaktoamedicalprofessionalwasinlinewiththenationallyrepresentativesurvey(41%).
Howeveritseemstherehasbeenariseintheproportionofparentswhofeeluncomfortableseekinghelpforhowtheyarefeelingfrom18%beforethepandemicto34%duringit.
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The role of wider society and primary schoolsThelast100yearshaveseenextensivechangestofamilystructuresintheUK.15 The nuclearfamilyisnolongertheacceptednorm,withmorehouseholdscomprisedofcohabitingparents,stepfamilies,singleparentfamiliesandthoseco-parentingandlivingapart.16Alongsidechangestofamilystructure,societaltrendsincludethegeographicmovementofparentsawayfromtheirwiderfamily,leadingtowhatmanycommentatorsbelievetobeaweakeningofcommunitycohesionandidentity.17Thismeansthattraditionalparentalrolesandresponsibilitieshavechanged,andtheroleofwidersocietyisunderthespotlight.
Parentsofa0to5-year-oldtendtoassumethattheresponsibilityforgivingchildrenthebestchanceofhealthandhappinessispurelytheirs(58%),ratherthanthejointresponsibilityofeveryoneinsociety(20%)ortheequalresponsibilitybetweenparentsandsociety(18%).*
Whenitcomestochildren’sdevelopmenthowever,manyparentsregardprimaryschoolsashavingakeyrole.Almostsixintenparentsbelievethatschoolsandparentsshouldbeequallyresponsibleforreadingandwriting(59%)aswellasnon-coreacademicskillssuchasimaginationandcreativity(57%),speakingandlistening(54%)andphysicalskills(53%).Theproportionwhofeelschoolsandparentsshouldhaveequalresponsibilityisjustunderhalfforsocialskillsandbehaviours(49%)comparedwith46%whobelievethatparentsshouldbemainlyresponsible.Andwhenitcomestoemotionalawarenessjust
*Respondentsweretold“Bysociety,wemeaneveryoneonthiscard:Widerfamily,Neighbours,Friends,Schools,Nurseries,Wider
community,Healthprofessionals(e.g.healthvisitors,nurses,midwivesandGPs),Socialworkers,Localauthorityearlyhelpprofessionals
(e.g.familysupportworkers,youthworkers),Childminderornanny,Charity/Voluntarysector.
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overtwo-fifthsbelievethatschoolsandparentsshouldhaveequalresponsibility(43%).butahigherproportion(54%)believeparentsshouldbemainlyresponsible.
Thefindingthatsuchalargeproportionofparentsperceiveparentsandprimaryschoolstohaveequalresponsibilityfordevelopingbasicskillsmaymeanthatalargeproportionofparentsalsounderestimatetheimportanceoftheirowninteractionswithchildrenpre-school.Itmayalsomeanthatparentsmaybeleavingactivitiesthatencouragetheirchild’sdevelopmentuntiltheyareatschoolage.Indeed,inourconversationswithparents,atendencytorelyonprimaryschoolstoinstigatevariousdevelopmentalactivitiesincludingreadingandwritingwasapparent.
Theperceptionamongsomeparentsthatlearningdoesnotbeginuntilchildrenstartschoolcombinedwithatendencytofocusonexternal,observablephenomenawhenassessingchildren’sdevelopmentmaycontributetowardsamore‘passive’approachtochilddevelopmentintheearlyyearsintheUK.Thismayaffectthepreparednessofchildrenforschool.Governmentdatashowsoveraquarter(28%)ofchildrenwerenotconsidered‘school ready’in2018/19.*
5 Big Questions insight Aroundhalf(53%)ofthoseprovidingaresponse,believeditisthesharedresponsibility ofparentsandothersinsocietytogivechildrenaged0to5thebestchanceofhealth andhappiness.However,asizeableproportion(46%)believeditisprimarilytheresponsibilityofparents.
*Governmentdatashowsoveraquarter(28%)ofchildreninEnglandwerenotconsidered‘schoolready’withtheirlanguage,
communicationandliteracyskillsin2018/19,andthisrisestoover2in5(42%)insomedeprivedareas.
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Therearethreemainthemesthatemergefromthisresearch:
Thesearediscussedinmoredetailbelow.
1. Promoting education and dissemination of evidence on the primacy of the early years to the whole of society.
• AsignificantproportionofUKparentsofa0-5-year-old(69%)underestimatetheprimaryimportanceoftheearlyyears.Thiscontrastswiththescientificevidencewhichisclearontheprimacyoftheearlyyearsinprovidingthefoundationforbothchildren’sfuturedevelopment8andtheirlifechancesasadults.Thispointstotheneedtoelevatetheimportanceofthepregnancyandearlyyearsperiodinthepublicconsciousness;notonlyamongparentsbutamongtheparentsoftomorrowandthewholeofsociety.
• Thereisasignificantgapinunderstandingofhowrapidlythebrainisdevelopingduringthemostcriticalfirsttwoyears.Reflectingfindingsfromotherresearch,18thiscouldresultinlessactiveinteractionwithchildrenintheearlyyears,particularlybeforethechildstartstoexhibitoutwardsignsofdevelopmentsuchasspeaking.Itmayalsoleadtoamore‘passive’approachtocaringforchildren,focusingonphysicalneeds(suchasfeedingandsleeping),ratherthantheiremotionalandsocialdevelopment.
• Toincreaseunderstandingofbraindevelopmentweneedtotranslateandincreaseaccessibilityofdevelopmentalscience,soparents,futureparentsandwidersocietyunderstandtheimportanceofactiveinteractionwithchildreninthe0-5agegroup(withaparticularfocusonthe0-2period)onthelifechancesofbabiesfarbeyondthesefirstyears.
2. The need to cultivate and sustain more support networks for parents to enhance their mental health and wellbeing.
• Whileparentsgenerallyunderstandtheimpactoftheirmentalstateonchildrenatasuperficiallevel(e.g.inextremecasesofabuseorneglect),itisimportanttoraiseawarenessofthelong-termimpactofcommonmentalhealthconditions(suchas
CONCLUSIONS3.
1. The importance of promotingeducationanddisseminationofevidenceon the primacy of the early yearstoparents,parents of the future and the whole ofsociety.
2. Theneedtocultivateandsustainmoresupportnetworksforparentstoenhance their mental health andwellbeing.
3. Encouragingsocietyasawholebemoresupportiveofparents,carersandfamiliesintheearlyyears.
19Ipsos MORI | State of the Nation: Understanding Public Attitudes to the Early Years
depressionandanxiety)onchildren’sdevelopment.Itisvitaltoensureparentshaveaccesstothesupporttheyneed,especiallythosewhohavesmallersupportnetworks.Theresearchindicatesaroundafifthofparentswithchildrenagedfiveandunderarevulnerableduetoalackofformalorinformalsupportnetworks.
• Itisimportanttobuildtrustin,andvisibilityof,sourcesofsupportthatexistincommunitiesasparentswithoutsupportnetworksareatthegreatestriskofpoormentalhealthwhichimpactsontheearlydevelopmentofchildren.Parents’firstportsofcallforsupporttheytrustarethosewithwhomtheyhaveapersonalrelationship(suchasfamilyorfriends)ortheNHS(GPs,HealthVisitors,NHSwebsite).Otherpotentialsourcesofsupportareoftennotfrontofmindandnon-NHSonlinesourcesaretheleasttrusted.Itisimportantforonlinesourcestohaveaclearassociationwitha‘trusted’andfamiliarbrandliketheNHS,andtobepromotedinastreamlinedwaybetweendifferentservicestoengageparents.
3. Encouraging society as a whole be more supportive of parents, carers and families in the early years.
• Mostparentsworkhardtoprovidepositiveexperiencesfortheirchildren.However,parentsfacejugglingpriorities,conflictingdemandsontheirtime,stressandexhaustion.Theyalsofeeljudgedbyothersathomeandinthecommunity,primarilyfortheirchild’sbehaviour.Parentsrequiresupportandunderstandingfromthewholeofsociety.
• Whenparentsfeelstressedandjudgedtheymayadapttheirbehaviourandrelationshipwiththeirchildandbemorereluctanttoseeksupport.Thismoderationofbehaviourmayimpacttheirchild(ren)’slong-termdevelopment11.Stressandjudgementcanimpactparents’wellbeingandmentalhealth,withmanyparentsoftenfindingthemselvesprioritisingotherthingsovertheirownmentalwellbeing.
• Itisimportantthatparentsfeelthatsocietyasawholesupportstheminbringinguptheirchild.Anenvironmentinwhichparentsfeelabletoaccesssupportisimportantfortheirownwellbeingandthatoftheirchild.Feelingthatsocietyisunsupportivecanplaceunduepressuresonparents,butalsolimitthedepthandrangeofrelationships,opportunitiesand(moreformally)interventionsthatchildrenexperience.
• Wealsofindthatparentsseeprimaryschoolsashavinganimportantandsometimesequalroleinsupportingchildren’sdevelopment.Parentsthereforeneedtobesupportedtounderstandtheknowledgeandskillsthatwillprovidetheirchildwithagoodfoundationforschoolandtobeequippedtoplaytheirroleinchilddevelopmentinthepre-schoolyears.
Collectivelythesefindingsareintendedtoprovokediscussionanddebate.Theyidentifykeyissuestoaddresstoensuresupportforparentsandcarerstoraisethenextgeneration,andhighlightanopportunitytohelppeopleunderstandtheearlyyears.Thesignificanceofthisopportunityisnotjustitsbearingonbetteroutcomesforchildrenbutitsimpactonhealthandhappinessforthewholeoflifeandforfuturegenerations.
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1. SavetheChildren.(2016).Lightingupyoungbrains:Howparents,carersandnurseriessupportchildren’sbraindevelopmentinthefirstfiveyears.SavetheChildren.Availableat:https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/library/lighting-young-brains-how-parents-carers-and-nurseries-support-childrens-brain-development
2. Finnegan,J.(2010).HowtoTalkAboutChildren’sMentalHealth:AFrameWorksMessageMemo.FrameWorksInstitute.Availableat:https://www.frameworksinstitute.org/publication/how-to-talk-about-childrens-mental-health-a-frameworks-messagememo
3. BrittoPR,LyeS,ProulxK,etal.(2016).Nurturingcare:promotingearlychildhooddevelopment.Lancet.389(10064).Availableat:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31390-3
4. CenterontheDevelopingChildatHarvardUniversity.(2009).MaternalDepressionCanUnderminetheDevelopmentofYoungChildren:WorkingPaperNo.8.Availableat:https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/maternal-depression-can-undermine-the-development-of-young-children
5. CenterontheDevelopingChildatHarvardUniversity.(2012).TheScienceofNeglect:ThePersistentAbsenceofResponsiveCareDisruptstheDevelopingBrain:WorkingPaperNo.12.Availableat:https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/the-science-of-neglect-the-persistent-absence-of-responsive-care-disrupts-the-developing-brain
6. Shribman,S.&Billingham,K.(2009).HealthyChildProgramme:Pregnancyandthefirstfiveyearsoflive.DepartmentofHealth.Availableat:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/healthy-child-programme-pregnancy-and-the-first-5-years-of-life
7. Kendall-Taylor,N.(2010).ExperiencesGetCarriedForward:HowAlbertansThinkAboutEarlyChildDevelopment.FrameWorksInstitute.Availableat:https://www.albertafamilywellness.org/resources/doc/experiences-get-carried-forward-how-albertans-think-about-early-child-development
8. Karoly,L.A.,Kilburn,M.R.&Cannon,J.S.(2005).EarlyChildhoodInterventions:ProvenResults,FuturePromise.Availableat:http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG341.pdf
REFERENCES4.
21Ipsos MORI | State of the Nation: Understanding Public Attitudes to the Early Years
9. Mikolajczak,M.,Gross,J.J.&Roskam,I.(2019).ParentalBurnout:WhatIsIt,andWhyDoesItMatter?ClinicalPsychologicalScience,216770261985843,doi:10.1177/2167702619858430
10 J.R.Morales&Guerra,N.G.(2006).EffectsofMultipleContextandCumulativeStressonUrbanChildren’sAdjustmentinElementarySchool,ChildDevelopment,77(4):907-23.doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2006.00910
11. Clarke,B.&Younas,F.(2017).Helpingparentstoparent.SocialMobilityCommission.Availableat:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/592452/Helping_Parents_to_Parent_report.pdf
12. Barlow,J.&Cohen,E.(2017).TheEffectivenessofParentingPrograms:AreviewofCampbellreviews.TheEffectivenessofParentingPrograms:AReviewofCampbellReviews.ResearchonSocialWorkPractice.2018;28(1):99-102.doi:10.1177/1049731517725184
13. Neece,C.L.,Green,S.A.&Baker,B.L.(2012).Parentingstressandchildbehaviorproblems:atransactionalrelationshipacrosstime.Americanjournalonintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilities,117(1),48–66.https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-117.1.48
14. Mushtaq,R.,Shoib,S.,Shah,T.&Mushtaq,S.(2014).RelationshipBetweenLoneliness,PsychiatricDisordersandPhysicalHealth?AReviewonthePsychologicalAspectsofLoneliness,8(9),doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/10077.4828
15. Mahew.,L.&Smith.,D.(2020).The100YearFamily:Longerlives,fewerchildrenInternationalLongevityCentreUK.Availableat:https://ilcuk.org.uk/the-100-year-family
16. OfficeforNationalStatistics.(2019).FamiliesandhouseholdsintheUKStatisticalbulletins.Availableat:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/families/bulletins/familiesandhouseholds/previousReleases
17. Schout,G.&deJong,G.(2018).TheWeakeningofKinTies:ExploringtheNeedforLife-WorldLedInterventions.InternationalJournalofEnvironmentalResearchandPublicHealth.15(203).Availableat:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020203
18. Forexample,Kendall-Taylor,Nathaniel(2010).ExperiencesGetCarriedForward:HowAlbertansThinkAboutEarlyChildDevelopment.Washington,DC:FrameWorksInstitute
7 out of every 10 parents feel judged by others.Among these parents, almost half feel thisnegatively impacts their mental health.
70%of parents saythey feel judgedby others
48%say this has takenan emotional tollon them
3.
4.The pandemic has pushed parental loneliness up from 38% to 63%.
This increase in loneliness for parents is more apparent in the most deprived areas; these parents are more than twice as likely as those livingin the least deprived areasto say they feel lonely oftenor always.
38%Before theCOVID-19pandemic
63%After thefirst lockdownin the UK
Mostdeprived
Leastdeprived
IN THE FACEOF ADVERSITY, SUPPORT FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED FOR MANY - BUT NOT FOR ALL
5.
Across the UK, communities have united powerfully to meet the challenge of unprecedented times.
Parents in the most deprived areas are less likely to have experienced increased community support than those elsewhere.Experienced increased community support
33%Most deprived
52%Least deprived
40%of people feel that communitysupport has grown
13% 5%
FEELING JUDGEDBY OTHERS CANMAKE A BADSITUATION WORSE
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED PARENTALLONELINESS
Parents recognise the importance of good mental health, but struggle to findtime for themselves.
Only 10% of parents mentioned taking the time to look after their own wellbeing when asked how they had prepared for the arrival of their baby.
Yet worryingly, just one in four recognise the specific importance ofthe first five years of a child’s life.
24%say start ofpregnancy to 5 years ismost important
of people see parental mental health and wellbeing as beingcritical to a child’s development
90%took time to look after their own wellbeing
10%
1.
2.
THE REALITY OF LIFE MAKES IT HARD FOR PARENTS TO PRIORITISE THEIR WELLBEING
PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY BELIEVE THAT A CHILD’S FUTURE ISNOT PRE-DETERMINED AT BIRTH
STATE OF THE NATION:UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO THE EARLY YEARS5 KEY INSIGHTS
Data is taken from a number of studies: the 5 Big Questions, (435,141 UK responses, January 2020),nationally representative face-to-face survey (3,733 adults, Dec 2019 – Jan 2020) and an online survey (1,000 parents of 0-5s, October 2020).
98%of people believethat nurture isessential to lifelong outcomes
22
7 out of every 10 parents feel judged by others.Among these parents, almost half feel thisnegatively impacts their mental health.
70%of parents saythey feel judgedby others
48%say this has takenan emotional tollon them
3.
4.The pandemic has pushed parental loneliness up from 38% to 63%.
This increase in loneliness for parents is more apparent in the most deprived areas; these parents are more than twice as likely as those livingin the least deprived areasto say they feel lonely oftenor always.
38%Before theCOVID-19pandemic
63%After thefirst lockdownin the UK
Mostdeprived
Leastdeprived
IN THE FACEOF ADVERSITY, SUPPORT FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED FOR MANY - BUT NOT FOR ALL
5.
Across the UK, communities have united powerfully to meet the challenge of unprecedented times.
Parents in the most deprived areas are less likely to have experienced increased community support than those elsewhere.Experienced increased community support
33%Most deprived
52%Least deprived
40%of people feel that communitysupport has grown
13% 5%
FEELING JUDGEDBY OTHERS CANMAKE A BADSITUATION WORSE
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED PARENTALLONELINESS
Parents recognise the importance of good mental health, but struggle to findtime for themselves.
Only 10% of parents mentioned taking the time to look after their own wellbeing when asked how they had prepared for the arrival of their baby.
Yet worryingly, just one in four recognise the specific importance ofthe first five years of a child’s life.
24%say start ofpregnancy to 5 years ismost important
of people see parental mental health and wellbeing as beingcritical to a child’s development
90%took time to look after their own wellbeing
10%
1.
2.
THE REALITY OF LIFE MAKES IT HARD FOR PARENTS TO PRIORITISE THEIR WELLBEING
PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY BELIEVE THAT A CHILD’S FUTURE ISNOT PRE-DETERMINED AT BIRTH
STATE OF THE NATION:UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO THE EARLY YEARS5 KEY INSIGHTS
Data is taken from a number of studies: the 5 Big Questions, (435,141 UK responses, January 2020),nationally representative face-to-face survey (3,733 adults, Dec 2019 – Jan 2020) and an online survey (1,000 parents of 0-5s, October 2020).
98%of people believethat nurture isessential to lifelong outcomes
Ipsos MORI | State of the Nation: Understanding Public Attitudes to the Early Years 24
25Ipsos MORI | State of the Nation: Understanding Public Attitudes to the Early Years
Ipsos MORI | State of the Nation: Understanding Public Attitudes to the Early Years 26
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