With one of the wildest and most unpredictable years in history firmly in our rearview mirror, it’s tempting to kick back and welcome 2021 with open arms. However, as the new year promises to continue some of the most concerning health and social developments of 2020and bring about some much-needed changes as wellit’s more important than ever to stay aware of what it all means for us as parents. Parenting may look a bit different in the year to come, and attention to the trends can inform us about what to expect.
2021 Parenting Trends
As with most trends, these 2021 trends are heavily influenced by the events of the years before. As a result, some are a simple continuation of trends we saw in 2020 and even 2019, while others are significantly newer predictions of what may be ahead. These are the most significant we think you’ll need to keep an eye on as the year progresses:
- Continued focus on e-learning and home-based learning. It’s not new information that COVID-19 triggered a shift to individual-based, online learning. However, while this widespread, nationwide focus on home learning began in March 2020, many families had already adopted one or both methodsand by May, as many as 40% of families expressed a desire to stick with distance learning long term. In the new year, many schools continue to operate with a distance learning model, and others are forced to return to e-learning while COVID-19 cases spike.
- Potential reversal of gains made to close the resource gap. Unfortunately, not all families benefit from distance learning, particularly those with few resources at home and those who experience relatively little community support. These families are also less likely to receive the work flexibility and other employer accommodations necessary to present optimal parent engagement in schoolwork. A recent report from the Brookings Institution suggests that a long-awaited narrowing of the resource gap between parents of average and low-income levels seems to be making a reversal as a result of COVID-19.
- Increases in parental stress. Here’s one trend you likely didn’t need an official trend report to recognizestress is increasing. Between economic worries, decreased availability of parental mental health resources, and increasing conflicts between work, home, and school responsibilities, it’s no surprise that many parents report an uptick in parental stress. The percentage of parents who felt overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a parent increased from 8.9% to over 14%, with little sign of stopping with the new year.
- Focus on health and the future. For many parents, the continued focus on personal and societal health has us thinking about the futureespecially where our children are concerned. In addition to increased attention to ways to keep our bodies and minds healthy, many parents are considering the implications a lengthy illness could have on family finances for years to come. As 2021 goes on, we predict more and more parents will devote close attention to health insurance concerns like adjusting coverage or even switching to a fixed indemnity plan.
- Diversification in smart tech. Smart devices are certainly not new entries in any publication’s trends sectionthe ubiquitous iPhone has been around since 2007, and parenting apps have been in use for nearly as long. However, more of these devices are working their way into parenting markets than ever. From smart home devices tailored to even the most complicated parenting routines to specially designed sleep monitoring and diaper alert kits, there’s tech to meet practically every parenting need in 2021.
Of course, as we learned very quickly in 2020, our future is not written in stone, and any number of issues and incidents may come along to alter the trajectory of 2021. However, this uncertainty is, in some cases, precisely what gave rise to many of the key trends listed above. Fortunately, developing an awareness of some of the contributing factorsand our own personal and social responses to themcan help us encourage the positive trends and do what we can to minimize the negative effects. Hopefully, 2021 will find its place in history as the year we all recovered from the total upheaval that was 2020.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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