Recently, the national press has devoted extensive coverage to children’s and family issues. With that in mind, a recent study sponsored by Christian Parenting Today, a publication of Christianity Today International, provides data on how its subscribers are rearing their children. The survey addresses such questions as: How do Christian parents rate their church’s children’s programs? Are Christian families too busy for devotions? Do Christian parents care what their kids watch on TV, see at the movies, or do online?
Busy Families
Not including work and school, the typical family spends more than seven hours each week in organized activities outside the home. Even with all this activity, Christian families still have dinner together five or six nights a week, according to the survey. Most families turn off the TV (64%) and wait until everyone is present before eating (59%). Nearly nine in ten families (88%) pray before the evening meal. While eating dinner, nearly all families (95%) discuss the day’s happenings. However, just four in ten (39%) have family devotions once a week or more. Fifty-two percent rarely, if ever, have family devotions.
Church Satisfaction
More than nine in ten (91%) families surveyed attend church weekly. Most parents are either extremely satisfied (45%) or satisfied (41%) with their house of worship. Sixty-nine percent or more of parents consider Sunday school, youth, and children’s programs extremely important. But the majority of parents would not describe themselves as “very satisfied” with any of these three programs at their church. Parents are more pleased with the music and quality of preaching during worship services.
Regulating Media Intake
Turning to media choices, almost all families surveyed have a TV (99%), and most have Internet access (82%) and go to the movies with their kids (67% in the past year). The parents surveyed are very involved in controlling their children’s media exposure. The typical parent waits until their child is almost nine before allowing him or her to see a PG-rated movie and almost 14 before allowing him or her to see a PG-13 movie. Most parents (55%) will not allow their child to see an R-rated movie. When it comes to TV watching, parents normally must approve a program before it’s viewed (87%) and they limit the amount of time their children spend in front of the set. With the Internet, parents exercise even more control. Half of them do not let their children go online. Those parents who do, either sit beside their child, stay in view of the computer, periodically check on them, or use filtering software.
About The Study
One thousand surveys were mailed to the subscribers of Christian Parenting Today, and 508 completed surveys were returned by December 4, 2000, a response rate of 51 percent. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. The typical respondent was a 35-year-old working mother with two children at home.
John C. LaRue, Jr., is vice-president of Internet research and development for Christianity Today International, in Carol Stream, Illinois. He may be reached by e-mail at editor@churchlawandtax.com. Previous Special Reports can be found online here.
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