Why today’s moms and dads prioritize mental health over math

Six in 10 parents are throwing their own parents’ rulebooks out the window, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 parents of kids ages 0 to 6 revealed that today’s moms and dads are doing things in a more modern way.

While their own parents focused mostly on education and academics (57%), physical activity (48%) and communication skills (41%) while growing up, parenting priorities differ today.

Forty-one percent said their parents did not place a lot of emphasis on mental and emotional health when they were growing up, but this is a focus for two-thirds of parents today.

Good communication takes priority in parents’ efforts (74%), while education (69%) and physical activity (65%) are still focus areas, too.

Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Lightbridge Academy (https://lightbridgeacademy.com), the survey sought to uncover what parents are prioritizing before their child is even ready to enter the classroom.

The results show that parents want their kids to develop skills that will make them better at relationships before kindergarten, primarily sharpening their listening skills (64%) and communication skills (58%).

Mental health-related skills like confidence (57%) and emotional regulation (46%) are also important to parents today.

Support from others matters to parents when it comes to how their child is raised, with 91% of those who sent their child to day care saying that their child’s provider was important when it came to their growth and development.

In these early years, parents admittedly worry about their child’s safety (49%) above all, followed by bullying (38%), making friends (34%) and their mental health (28%).

To ensure their child has the support they need, 85% said that it’s important that their community share the same values.

“We’re witnessing a generational reset in parenting,” said Gigi Schweikert, CEO of Lightbridge Academy. “Today’s parents are prioritizing emotional well-being, communication, and confidence just as much as academics or physical activity. They’re not just raising children—they’re intentionally nurturing whole people. This research reinforces that early childhood education providers play a vital role in that journey, helping to create safe, values-aligned environments where children can thrive socially, emotionally, and intellectually.”

For those who have kids who have already entered kindergarten, they’ve found that listening skills were the easiest to learn (43%), along with sharing and cooperation (43%). Independence (42%) and verbal communication skills (41%) also come naturally.

Seeing their child blossom socially may be a result of parents’ focused efforts, as they shared some of the approaches they’re incorporating into their parenting style: positive parenting and respectful parenting (49% each).

But parents aren’t perfect: the average parent feels like they make five missteps a week.

From their experience with raising a child, respondents have found that they personally need to work on self-care (48%), maintaining a healthy lifestyle (43%), supporting their mental health and wellness (42%), emotional regulation (41%) and being present and engaged (40%).

Still, nearly eight times the percentage of respondents believe their own parenting methods are more effective than their parents’ (47% vs. 6%).

They’re ensuring that they’re making a conscious effort to be different, even though 42% “always” or “often” catch themselves parenting the same way their parents did.

A majority feel they’ve become a better person since becoming a parent (89%), and it’s only up for here: 59% expect to learn a lot more about themselves as their child enters elementary school.

“Parenting isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress,” said Schweikert. “Today’s parents are more self-aware than ever. They’re actively working on their well-being, their emotional health and how they show up for their children. While they acknowledge their own growth areas, they’re also intentionally evolving from the way they were raised. What’s clear is that becoming a parent inspires real personal transformation—and as children enter their early school years, parents are eager to continue learning and growing alongside them.”