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All Work and No Play?

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 All Work and No Play?

All Work and No Play?
Listening to What Kids and Parents Really Want from Out-of-School Time

The following results are based on a national random sample of 1,003 parents of K-12th graders. The survey was conducted by telephone from June 3-13, 2004. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.

Results of less than 0.5 are signified by an asterisk (*). Results of zero are signified by a dash (-). Responses may not always total 100% due to rounding. Combining answer categories may produce slight discrepancies between the numbers in these survey results and numbers in the report.


1. Are you the parent or guardian of any school-age children who currently live with you, or not?

    

100%

Yes, parent of school-age child

 



2. Grade of oldest child

    
 

7%

 

Kindergarten

 

6%

 

First

 

6%

 

Second

 

5%

 

Third

 

8%

 

Fourth

 

7%

 

Fifth

 

8%

 

Sixth

 

7%

 

Seventh

 

8%

 

Eighth

 

10%

 

Ninth [freshman]

 

9%

 

Tenth [sophomore]

 

11%

 

Eleventh [Junior]

 

10%

 

Twelfth [Senior]



3. Please tell me, is this child a girl or a boy?

    
 

47%

 

Girl

 

53%

 

Boy



4. Which of these comes closest to describing your child's day-to-day schedule?

    
 

16%

 

It's too hectic with too many things to do

 

13%

 

Child has too much free time on their hands

 

71%

 

Things are just about right

 

1%

 

Don't know



5. There are lots of things that parents worry about when it comes to their children. Which of these things—if any—is most likely to worry you?

    
 

44%

 

How well your child is doing in school

 

35%

 

Who your child's friends are

 

13%

 

What your child is doing when not in school

 

8%

 

[VOL.] Neither

 

1%

 

Don't know



6. Which comes closer to your own view?

    
 

83 %

 

These are dangerous times to raise kids—when it comes to their safety you can never be too careful 11% Kids today are actually safer than ever—people exaggerate the dangers they face

 

4%

 

[VOL.] Neither

 

2%

 

Don't know


I am going to read you some statements. Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with each one. [Q7-13]


7. Which of these comes closer to describing your child's after-school routine?

    
 

58%

 

Child has a relaxed afternoon where she comes home, takes it easy, does homework and spends time with friends

 

37%

 

Child has a scheduled place to go and activities to do after school

 

4%

 

[VOL.] Neither

 

1%

 

Don't know



8. And which would be your ideal routine? For your child to have:

    
 52%

 

 

A relaxed afternoon where s/he comes home, takes it easy, does homework and spends time with friends

 

43%

 

A scheduled place to go and activities to do after school

 

4%

 

[VOL.] Neither

 

2%

 

Don't know



9.How comfortable are you leaving your child home alone for a few hours after school? Would you say it is:

    
 

16%

 

Something you're reluctant to do unless there's no choice

 

45%

 

Not a problem at all, your child can handle it

 

38%

 

Something you never do

 

*

 

Don't know



10. And in a typical school week, how often is your child home alone after school?

    
 

9%

 

Five days a week

 

5%

 

Three to four days a week

 

22%

 

Once or twice a week

 

64%

 

Never

 

*

 

Don't know


Now, I am going to ask you about the kinds of activities your child does when s/he's NOT in school—that is, after school and on weekends. Please think about the current school year from September 2003 through June 2004. [Q11-20]


11. Did your child participate in any kind of sports activitieseither after school or on weekends, or not?

    
 

64%

 

Yes

 

36%

 

No

 

-

 

Don't know



12. Did your child participate in any school clubs or extracurricular activities after school or on weekends, or not?

    
 

53%

 

Yes

 

47%

 

No

 

*

 

Don't know



13. Did your child take lessons in things like music, dance or art after school or on weekends, or not?

    
 

38%

 

Yes

 

62%

 

No

 

-

 

Don't know



14. Did your child participate in an organization like the Scouts after school or on weekends, or not?

    
 

24%

 

Yes

 

76%

 

No

 

-

 

Don't know



15. Did your child get regular tutoring or extra academic preparation after school or on weekends, or not?

    
 

24%

 

Yes

 

76%

 

No

 

*

 

Don't know



16. Did your child participate in religious instruction or a church youth group after school or on weekends, or not?

 

    
 

57%

 

Yes

 

43%

 

No

 

*

 

Don't know

 



17. Did your child do volunteer work after school or on weekends, or not?

    
 

35%

 

Yes

 

65%

 

No

 

*

 

Don't know



18. Did your child participate in an after-school program either at school or another location, or not?

    
 

38%

 

Yes

 

62%

 

No

 

*

 

Don't know



19. Did your child have a part-time job after school or on weekends, or not?

Base: High school student (n=392)

    
 

46%

 

Yes

 

54%

 

No

 

-

 

Don't know



20. Is there some other activity that I haven't mentioned that your child took part in after school or on weekends?

    
 

2%

 

Yes

 

93%

 

No

 

5%

 

[VOL.] Unstructured Activity

 

-

 

Don't know



21. Typically, did these things take place only on school days, only on weekends or both?

Base: Participants (n=929)

    
 

15%

 

Only on school days

 

7%

 

Only on weekends

 

78%

 

Both

 

*

 

Don't know

 

22. Thinking back, how active and involved was your child in organized activities and programs?

Base: Participants (n=940)

    
 

43%

 

Very active and involved

 

39%

 

Somewhat active and involved

 

10%

 

Not too active or involved

 

8%

 

Hardly involved at all

 

*

 

Don't know

 

23. Think about the organized activity your child took part in most recently. Would you describe it as:

Base: Participants (n=927)

    
 

71%

 

Of good quality and well run by adults who know what they're doing

 

3%

 

Of poor quality and not well organized

 

25%

 

Somewhere in the middle

 

1%

 

Don't know

 

24. Generally speaking, when it comes to joining organized activities or programs, is your child usually:

    
 

7%

 

Unwilling and reluctant

 

50%

 

Eager and willing

 

43%

 

Somewhere in the middle

 

*

 

Don't know

 

25. Whether or not your child participates in any organized activities or programs, how carefully would you say your family has looked into the options available in your community?

 
 

53%

 

Very carefully

 36%

 

 

Somewhat carefully

 

5%

 

Not too carefully

 

5%

 

Not carefully at all

 

1%

 

Don't know


Please tell me how easy or hard you think it is to find activities and programs in your community that have each of the following characteristics. [Q26-31]


26. How about things that are run by adults you could trust—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find?

 
 

32%

 

Very easy

 

34%

 

Somewhat easy

 

19%

 

Somewhat hard

 

13%

 

Very hard

 

2%

 

Don't know

 

27. How about things that are affordable—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find?

 
 

19%

 

Very easy

 

38%

 

Somewhat easy

 

24%

 

Somewhat hard

 

18%

 

Very hard

 

1%

 

Don't know

 

28. How about things that are conveniently located—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find?

 
 

33%

 

Very easy

 

32%

 

Somewhat easy

 

19%

 

Somewhat hard

 

15%

 

Very hard

 

1%

 

Don't know

 

29. How about things that are interesting to your child—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find?

 
 

33%

 

Very easy

 

34%

 

Somewhat easy

 

20%

 

Very hard

 

1%

 

Don't know

 

30. How about things that are appropriate for your child's age—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find?

 
 

35%

 

Very easy

 

32%

 

Somewhat easy

 

20%

 

Somewhat hard

 

13%

 

Very hard

 

1%

 

Don't know

 

31. How about things that are of high quality—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find?

 
 

25%

 

Very easy

 

34%

 

Somewhat easy

 

25%

 

Somewhat hard

 

13%

 

Very hard

 

3%

 

Don't know

 

32. Other than safety, which of these do you think is the best reason for a child to be involved in organized activities and programs when they are not in school?

 
 

41%

 

To develop their interests and hobbies

 

27%

 

To keep them busy and out of trouble

 

16%

 

To have fun

 

15%

 

To improve how well they do in school

 

1%

 

[VOL.] None of these

 

1%

 

Don't know

 

33. Thinking about how your child spends his/her time when she/he's not in school, if you could choose, would you basically stick with things the way they are now, or would you want to change things?

 
 

58%

 

Basically stick with things the way they are now

 

41%

 

Would want to change things

 

1%

 

Don't know

 

34b. Suppose you were looking at different activities or programs for your child when s/he is not in school. Which of these three would be the best match? A program that focused on:

 
 

48%

 

Teaching the value of hard work and commitment

 

33%

 

Helping other people in the community

 

17%

 

Reinforcing your religious faith

 

2%

 

Don't know

 

35b. Suppose you were looking at different activities or programs for your child when s/he is not in school. Which of these three would be the best match? A program that focused on:

 

 
 

37%

 

Providing extra academic preparation and skills

 

32%

 

Athletic activity or team sports

 

29%

 

Teaching things like art, music or dance

 

3%

 

Don't know

 

 

36b. Now if you had to choose between [top choices in Q34b and Q35b], which of these two would you pick as the best match:

 
 

27%

 

A program that focused on teaching the value of hard work and commitment

 

19%

 

A program that focused on providing extra academic preparation and skills

 

16%

 

A program that focused on helping other people in the community

 

12%

 

A program that focused on reinforcing your religious faith

 

12%

 

A program that focused on teaching things like art, music or dance

 

11%

 

A program that focused on athletic activity or team sports

 

3%

 

Don't know

 

37b. How important would it be to you to find an after-school program that provides time for your child to do homework in a supervised setting—is that:

 
 

34%

 

Something you would go out of your way to find

 

37%

 

Something nice but not essential

 

28%

 

Not important to you

 

*

 

Don't know


[There is no Q38-41]


42. Which of these groups would you trust most to run a program?

 
 

40%

 

Your child's school

 

33%

 

A local religious organization

 

19%

 

A local non-profit organization, such as the Y

 

6%

 

Your city or town

 

*

 

[VOL.] None of these

 

2%

 

Don't know

 

43. When it comes to deciding how your child spends his/her time when s/he's not in school, would you say that ultimately:

 
 

42%

 

Things mostly go according to what you and your spouse want

 

23%

 

Things mostly go according to what your child wants

 

34%

 

[VOL.] Both equally

 

*

 

Don't know

 

44. As a parent, how much of a struggle is it for you to make sure your child has things to do when s/he's not in school? Is it:

 

 
 

55%

 

Something you have under control

 

33%

 

Something you struggle with only occasionally

 

13%

 

Something you struggle with on a regular basis

 

*

 

Don't know

 

 

45. And which time would you say is the hardest to make sure your child has things to do? Is it during:

 

 
 

58%

 

The summer months

 

14%

 

The hours after school

 

13%

 

The weekend

 

6%

 

[VOL.] Never have to struggle

 2%

 

 

[VOL.] All equally a struggle

 

1%

 

Don't know

 

 

46. Are you generally satisfied with the organized activities and programs available to your child during the summer months, or do you find that you really don't have enough good options?

 
 

50%

 

Generally satisfied with the organized activities and programs

 

48%

 

Really don't have enough good options

 

2%

 

Don't know

 

47. For the most part, have you already decided what your child is going to be doing during the summer, or are things still pretty much up in the air?

 
 

66%

 

Already decided

 

34%

 

Still up in the air

 

*

 

Don't know


When you think about your child's summer, how concerned are you—if at all—about each of the following? [Q48-52]


48. How about that your child will be bored if she/he has nothing to do?

 
 

24%

 

Very concerned

 

27%

 

Somewhat concerned

 

17%

 

Not too concerned

 

33%

 

Not concerned at all

 

-

 

Don't know

 

49. How about that you might have trouble finding someone to watch him/her?

 
 

8%

 

Very concerned

 

9%

 

Somewhat concerned

 

 

15%

 

Not too concerned

 69%

 

 

Not concerned at all

 

-

 

Don't know

 

50. How about that s/he will fall behind on academics?

 
 

20%

 

Very concerned

 

18%

 

Somewhat concerned

 

17%

 

Not too concerned

 45%

 

 

Not concerned at all

 

*

 

Don't know

 

52. How about that there’s not enough things to capture his/her interest?

 
 

17%

 

Very concerned

 

26%

 

Somewhat concerned

 

21%

 

Not too concerned

 

35%

 

Not concerned at all

 

*

 

Don't know

 

53. These days, is it your sense that the public schools in your community are raising academic standards and expectations for students, lowering them, or are things not changing either way?

 
 

45%

 

Raising them

 

18%

 

Lowering them

 

32%

 

Things are not changing either way

 

6%

 

Don’t know

 

54. Are there academic subjects where you feel your child needs extra help and attention, or not?

 
 

48%

 

Yes

 

52%

 

No

 

*

 

Don’t know

 

55. Which statement comes closer to your own view?

 
 

54%

 

Kids get more than enough academics during the school day, so after-school programs should focus on other things that capture their interest

 

38%

 

Since schools are putting so much emphasis on standardized tests and higher academic standards, kids are better off in after-school programs that focus on academic skills

 

5%

 

[VOL.] Neither

 

4%

 

Don’t know



56. Does your child use the Internet at home to surf the Web, play games or chat, or not?

 
 

65%

 

Yes

 

34%

 

No

 

1%

 

[VOL.] No computer at home

 

-

 

Don’t know



57. And do you mostly see this as:

Base: Uses internet at home (n=649)
 
 

58%

 

A good use of time where child is learning
something while having fun

 

21%

 

A harmless way to pass the time

 

19%

 

A negative and potentially risky thing to be
doing

 

2%

 

Don’t know



58. Does your child have his/her own cell phone, or not?

 
 

26%

 

Yes

 

74%

 

No

 

*

 

Don't know



59. Do you find that you give your child more freedom to move from place to place because the cell phone allows you to check in with each other, or is this not the case for you?

Base: Has own cell phone (n=260)
 
 

62%

 

Give child more freedom to move from place
to place

 

39%

 

This is not the case

 

-

 

Don't know



60. Is the mall a place where your child sometimes goes to hang out, or not?

 
 

11%

 

Yes

 

88%

 

No

 

1%

 

[VOL.] There is no mall

 

-

 

Don’t know



61. In general, which of these comes closest to your view of the mall as a place for kids to hang out?

 
 

60%

 

It’s a place with a lot of potential for bad things to happen

 

19%

 

It's a place that’s safe but a waste of time

 

18%

 

It’s a nice place where kids can be with friends and have something to do

 

3%

 

Don’t know



62. Think about the times when your child has nothing in particular to do. Do you think that this time usually ends up being:

 
 

45%

 

Wasted time

 

39%

 

Productive time

 

14%

 

[VOL.] My child always has something to do

 

2%

 

Don’t know



63. Do you think that your child is the type who might do the wrong thing if s/he’s hanging out with the wrong crowd, or is this not an issue for your child?

 
 

31%

 

Child might do the wrong thing if hanging
out with the wrong crowd

 

68%

 

This is not an issue

 

1%

 

Don’t know



64. Would you say your neighborhood is generally the kind of place where:

 
 

91%

 

It's safe for your child to be outside and have fun

 

8%

 

It's too dangerous for your child to be outside

 

1%

 

Don’t know



65. And would you say your neighborhood is the kind of place where people really watch out for each other’s kids, or not?

 
 

81%

 

Yes

 

17%

 

No

 

2%

 

Don’t know



66. When it comes to having enough things for elementary school children to do, do you think your community is doing as much as can be expected, or do you think that it could realistically do much more?

 
 

46%

 

Doing as much as can be expected

 

51%

 

Could realistically do much more

 

4%

 

Don’t know



67. And how about when it comes to having enough things for TEENAGERS to do? Do you think your community is doing as much as can be expected, or do you think that it could realistically do much more?

 
 

22%

 

Doing as much as can be expected

 

70%

 

Could realistically do much more

 

9%

 

Don’t know



68. When it comes to giving kids things to do when they're not in school, what do you think your local government's role should be? Is it enough to make sure there are parks, playgrounds and libraries in the community, or should it also provide quality organized activities and programs?

    
 

27%

 

Make sure there are parks, playgrounds and libraries in the neighborhood

 

71%

 

It should also provide quality organized activities and programs

 

3%

 

Don't know



69. How often do you rely on your child to keep an eye on his/her younger siblings when you are not home?

Base: Has younger siblings (n=475)

    
 

17%

 

Routinely

 

32%

 

Once in a while

 

32%

 

Hardly ever

 

19%

 

[VOL.] Never

 

-

 

Don't know



70. In your family, who takes care of most of the day-to-day needs of the children?s it mom, dad, equally split between the two of you, or is it someone else?

    
 

58%

 

Mom

 

4%

 

Dad

 

37%

 

Equally split

 

1%

 

Someone else

 

*

 

Don't know



71. And how personally involved would you say you are in deciding how your child spends his/her time when they're not in school?

    
 

79%

 

Very involved

 

18%

 

Somewhat involved

 

3%

 

Only a little

 

1%

 

Not at all

 

*

 

Don't know



72. Which of these best describes your family's current employment situation?

    
 

38%

 

Both parents work full time

 18%

 

 

One works full time and the other works part time

 

27%

 

One works full time and the other is mainly at home

 

15%

 

I am a single parent

 

3%

 

[VOL.] Something else

 

*

 

Don't know



73. How often, if ever, do you attend religious services?

    
 

13%

 

Never

 

21%

 

A few times a year

 

12%

 

About once a month

 

15%

 

Nearly every week

 

24%

 

Every week

 

14%

 

More than once a week

 

*

 

Don't know



74. What is the highest level of school you completed?

    
 

5%

 

Less than High School

 

29%

 

High School graduate

 

22%

 

Some College or Trade School, no degree

 

13%

 

Associate's or 2-year degree

 

21%

 

Bachelor's or 4-year degree

 

10%

 

Graduate degree

 

*

 

Don't know



75. Are you white, black or African American, Hispanic, Asian, or something else?

    
 

76%

 

White

 

11%

 

Black/African American

 

8%

 

Hispanic

 

2%

 

Asian

 

1%

 

Native American/ Amer. Ind.

 

3%

 

Something else

 

*

 

Don't know



76. I'm going to read some ranges of annual household income. Please stop me when I read the one that best describes your total household income in 2003.

    
 

14%

 

Under $25,000

 

30%

 

$25,000 to less than $50,000

 

24%

 

$50,000 to less than $75,000

 

15%

 

$75,000 to less than $100,000

 

15%

 

$100,000 or more

 

2%

 

Don't know



Region

    
 

18%

 

Northeast

 

23%

 

Midwest

 

36%

 

South

 

23%

 

West



Urbanicity

    
 

24%

 

Rural

 

49%

 

Suburban

 

27%

 

Urban



Gender

    
 

40%

 

Male

 

60%

 

Female

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