Grading Grown-Ups 2002: How do American kids and adults relate?

American adults agree to a surprising degree on what kids need from them. Now, findings in two major national studies show that only a small percentage of adults are deeply engaged in promoting the healthy development of young people outside their own families. Most adults don’t act on their own beliefs. The national study done in 2000 called Grading Grown-Ups: American adults report on their real relationships with kids examined adult involvement in the lives of young people outside their own families. Now a brand new summary report, Grading Grown-Ups 2002: How do American kids and adults relate? unfolds research from a telephone survey of more than 2,000 adults and youth. These findings reveal agreement about some fundamental priorities for youth-adult relationships, as well as some eye-opening input on how and why adults are dropping the ball. We have learned that adults and teens in the United States have more in common than some might imagine—at least in terms of their attitudes about how the generations should connect. Yet when it comes to providing children and youth with guidance and support, adults score pretty low on the curve. The findings shed light on the ways in which adults are—or are not—positively influencing “other people’s kids.”

Grading Grown-Ups 2002: How do American kids and adults relate? unfolds key findings from this brand new national study by Search Institute made possible with generous support from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. A telephone survey of more than 2,000 adults and youth reveals agreement about some fundamental priorities for youth-adult relationships, as well as some eye-opening input on how and why adults are dropping the ball. Grading Grown-Ups 2002 sheds light on the ways in which adults are—or are not—positively influencing “other people’s kids.”

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