When it comes to disciplining their kids, Gen Z is more than willing to share the load, according to a new poll.
The research, commissioned by Newsweek, found that Gen Z and millennials are much more open to letting their in-laws discipline their kids compared to boomers.
When participants were asked: "Would/do you let your in-laws discipline your children?" 42 percent of parents born between 1997 and 2006 (also known as Gen Z) respondents said yes, and 44 percent of millennials agreed.
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In contrast, 53 percent of the boomer generation—respondents born between 1946 and 1964—would not allow their in-laws authority.
The poll questioned 1,000 people, with the options of "yes," "no" and "prefer not to say." For boomers, 37 percent said they would let in-laws discipline their children and 9 percent preferred not to say. Half of millennials questioned reported that they would not let their in-laws discipline their child and 6 percent preferred not to say.
Gen Z were more similar to the latter, with results finding that 47 percent said no, they would not let in-laws help discipline, and 11 percent preferred not to say.
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One thing the three groups did agree on is that they would prefer their own parents to look after the kids over their in-laws.
Newsweek spoke to trends expert and keynote speaker Daniel Levine, who said the disparity between the older and younger generations not only reflects evolving parenting philosophies, but broader societal trends valuing personal expression and authenticity.
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"Younger generations favor gentle parenting methods than they themselves experienced. In general, boomers tend to be more authoritarian than their kids, and boomers' parents were even more conservative," he told Newsweek.
This generational rift underscores a wider shift in family dynamics and expectations. Gen Z parents appear more open to sharing the responsibility of child discipline with extended family, while boomers hold a more traditional stance on parental control.
"Younger generations are more open to involving in-laws in child-rearing because they view it as part of a supportive, communal approach to parenting. Another reason may be practical as younger generations' own economic challenges lead them to rely more on extended family for support, including discipline," Levine continued .
For many boomers, discipline may be seen as a primary parenting responsibility, and allowing in-laws to step in could be perceived as overstepping boundaries or undermining their authority as the parents.
Levine also noted that over the past few years, a parenting style that focuses on encouraging open conversations and building strong, respectful relationships between parents and their children could also be contributing to Gen Z's approach to discipline: "We are witnessing a long-term trend toward parenting approaches that emphasize emotional honesty and clear communication over strict discipline," he said.
As Gen Z continues to shape new norms in parenting, the debate over who gets to discipline their kids will likely persist as traits and habits are passed down the generations.
This random double-opt-in survey of 1,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Newsweek between August 27 and August 29, 2024. It was conducted by market research company Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
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