{"id":942990,"date":"2026-03-09T16:09:40","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/parents-say-the-village-is-vanishing-new-research-confirms\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T16:09:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:09:40","slug":"parents-say-the-village-is-vanishing-new-research-confirms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/parents-say-the-village-is-vanishing-new-research-confirms\/","title":{"rendered":"Parents Say the Village is Vanishing \u2014 New Research Confirms"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Parents Say the Village is Vanishing \u2014 New Research Confirms<\/b><\/p>\n

81% of Working Parents Report Fewer Child Care Supports Than Previous Generations<\/i><\/p>\n

NEWTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)–
\nThe long\u2011held notion that \u201cit takes a village\u201d to raise a family feels increasingly out of reach for today\u2019s working parents and was the focus of the first wave of research in the 2026 Modern Family Index (MFI) research study, commissioned by Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BFAM) and conducted by The Harris Poll.<\/p>\n

\nThe new research reveals that the village has all but vanished for many working parents, with 81% reporting the \u201cvillage\u201d of people that parents can rely on to help with their child care during the workday has shrunk compared to previous generations, and 77% agree that raising child(ren) requires a village.<\/p>\n

\nFamily dynamics have shifted and its impact is putting added pressure on working parents. An article from Forbes<\/a> points out \u201cthe absence of a traditional village\u201d only magnifies the stress that parents face today.<\/p>\n

\nResearch from Stanford\u2019s 2025 RAPID Survey<\/a> highlights that relatives and neighbors, traditionally a safety net for child care emergencies, are now far less consistently available, leaving families without the backup support they need. It\u2019s no surprise then that 60% of working parents who have people they can rely on to watch\/care for their child(ren) during the workday admit they often depend on a patchwork network of individuals\u2014even though 88% say they would prefer to rely on a consistent set of caregivers during the workday.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cForward\u2011thinking employers are redefining what it means to support the modern workforce. As the needs of working parents continue to evolve, they deserve dependable care solutions that allow them to thrive both at work and at home,\u201d said Bright Horizons CEO Stephen Kramer. \u201cWhen organizations invest in these supports for their employees, we believe they unlock a more engaged, loyal, and productive workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nWorking parents surveyed also noted the difficulties in arranging child care during work hours, with many feeling at the mercy of others or feeling guilty for having to ask for help. Some additional findings among working parents:<\/p>\n