Majority of Adults Look Forward To Summer Now As Much As When They Were Kids... Especially Women and Parents

NEW YORK, July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As heatwaves abound and pools overflow, The Harris Poll learned that kids aren't the only ones walking on sunshine.  And even though over half of Americans feel it is more stressful to be a parent during the summer than during the school year (58%), seven-in-ten adults say they look forward to the summertime as much now as they did when they were children (69%). 

Women are more likely to look forward to summer with child-like levels of excitement than men (74% vs. 64%, respectively), and the same goes for parents with children under 18 in their households over those without (77% vs. 66%, respectively). 

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,028 U.S. adults surveyed online and in English between June 9 and 11, 2015.  Full results of this study, including data tables, can be found here.

Do you know where your children are?

School may be out for summer, but a break from homework doesn't necessarily mean total freedom for America's children.  Nine in ten adults believe children need structure over the summer (89%), a sentiment supported especially heavily by parents (93% vs. 88% non-parents).  So what is in store for kids this summer?

Interestingly, though half of Americans believe finding reliable childcare is easier for parents during the summer than during the school year (51%), parents are less likely to say so than those without kids in the household (44% parents vs. 53% non-parents).  So it's not all that surprising that when asked how their children will be spending this summer, a strong majority of parents say they'll will spend at least part of their summer at home (66%). 

• Those in two-parent households where one parent is a "homemaker" (83%) are especially likely to say their children will be staying home for at least part of the summer, though strong majorities of both single parents and those in two-parent households without a "homemaker" do indicate the same (59% and 61%, respectively).

The next most popular summer plan, favored among a three in ten minority, is children spending their days at friends' or relatives' homes (29%). 

Meanwhile, 22% of parents will be sending their kids to camp (17% to day camp, 9% to sleep-away camp) and one in ten parents have children who will be working (10%).

• When specifically looking at parents of children between the ages of 13 and 17 there is a clear spike in employed children.  One in three of these parents will have working children this summer (31%).

Fewer than one in ten parents will have children in day care (8%), or summer school (7%), and 5% will be leaving their kid(s) with an au pair, nanny or babysitter.

• And it's not much of a surprise that parents with children 5 and under will be those most likely to be found dropping their kids off for day care (13%).

Summer camp decisions

Over four-fifths of adults feel that the lessons learned at summer camp are just as important as those learned in school (84%), but only a bit over two in ten parents will actually be sending their children to some type of camp this summer (22%); it's worth noting that this swells to one-third among those with children aged 6-12 (34%).  So what are the factors determining where – if anywhere – parents are sending their kids this summer?

Almost all parents agree that cost is an important factor when deciding where to send their kids (93%), with 61% saying it is very important.  

Just under nine in ten adults believe that proximity to home (88%), certification of the teachers/counselors (88%), balance of outdoor and indoor activities (87%), and the availability of educational opportunities (86%) are also important aspects to consider.

• When looking at "very important" ratings, teacher/ counselor certification pulls ahead among these four factors (52%), followed by educational opportunities (46%), indoor-outdoor balance (45%), and finally proximity to home (44%).

Over four-fifths of parents believe the accreditation of the establishment/camp is important (82% - 51% very important), while around two-thirds are convinced of the importance of payment plans (68% - 35% very important) and additional/flexible hours (65% - 35% very important).

In addition, 51% of parents each feel that provided transportation and the ability to qualify for reimbursement are important (28% and 21% very important, respectively).

Fewer than half of parents feel to camp are religious affiliation is important (44% - 19% very important), while one-third say the same of special need accommodations (33% - 16% very important).

How old is too young?

With so many options for how a child might spend their summer, when are they old enough to venture out of the nest?  According to a plurality of Americans (48%), children are ready to attend day camp when they are between the ages of 6 and 9 years old.  However, sleep-away/travel camp is seen as requiring a bit more maturity, with the largest percentage of adults (46%) believing it's appropriate for a child to begin attending between the ages of 10 and 12.

More opportunities abound once a child reaches 13-17 years old.  Between these ages, majorities of adults believe kids are ready to stay home alone during the day (55%), get a job/internship (58%), or work as a babysitter (73%).

But there are still a couple things adults only trust other adults to do.  Only upon reaching or exceeding age 18 do Americans feel it's appropriate to work as camp counselors (58%) or as an au pair/nanny (74%).

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Methodology

This Harris Poll was conducted online, in English, within the United States between June 9 and 11, 2015 among 2,028 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, The Harris Poll avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in our panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of The Harris Poll.

Product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

The Harris Poll^® #45, July 29, 2015
By Hannah Pollack, Harris Poll Research Analyst

About The Harris Poll®
Begun in 1963, The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys measuring public opinion in the U.S. and is highly regarded throughout the world.  The nationally representative polls, conducted primarily online, measure the knowledge, opinions, behaviors and motivations of the general public.  New and trended polls on a wide variety of subjects including politics, the economy, healthcare, foreign affairs, science and technology, sports and entertainment, and lifestyles are published weekly.  For more information, or to see other recent polls, please visit our new website, TheHarrisPoll.com.

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