A recent study commissioned by Amazon Alexa and conducted by Kantar in June 2024 highlights the significant role technology plays in helping parents answer their children’s questions. The survey, which involved over 750 parents from six cities, reveals intriguing insights into how parents address their kids’ curiosity.
Key Findings
- Technology Use: Over 80% of parents frequently use technology to find information to answer their children’s questions.
- Instant Answers: About 54% of parents often feel they don’t have immediate answers readily available.
- Answer Strategies:
- 52% of parents search and provide accurate answers immediately if they don’t know the answer.
- 44% admit to making up answers on the spot.
- 3% either ignore the question or change the topic to avoid answering.
Encouragement and Learning
- Promoting Curiosity: More than 90% of parents encourage their kids to ask more questions as it fosters their growth and learning.
- Learning Process: 92% of parents acknowledge that they also learn new things while responding to their children’s queries.
Common Questions and Topics
- Top Questions: Kids frequently ask about topics such as:
- “How to make a car?”
- “How big is the universe?”
- “How does an airplane fly?”
- “How do fish breathe underwater?”
- Popular Topics: Food, animals, nature, general knowledge, holidays, technology, and movies are common subjects of inquiry.
Parental Challenges
- Difficult Questions: Approximately 60% of parents are often stumped by seemingly simple questions like:
- “What season comes between winter and summer?”
- “Why do parents have to work?”
- “Why do we wash vegetables?”
- Answer Deflection: 37% of parents admit to deflecting difficult questions to their partner.
Curiosity Triggers
- Activities Sparking Curiosity:
- Watching TV: 63% of parents report that kids become more curious while watching TV.
- Traveling: 57%
- Studying: 56%
- Outdoor Activities: 55%
- Handheld Devices: 52%
- Listening to Adult Conversations: 50%
This study underscores the integral role of technology in supporting parents as they navigate their children’s endless questions, while also highlighting the diverse ways in which children’s curiosity is stimulated.
