Big Parenting Survey 2024

Hello Parents, a major part of Parenting NI's work is ensuring that the views, issues and concerns of parents in Northern Ireland are heard. We are asking you to take part in our anonymous "Big Parenting Survey" 2024. This survey will give you a chance to tell us about your experiences, the high points and the struggles. This will help shape the work of Parenting NI to reflect the genuine feelings and challenges that you may face and ensure that our programmes tackle these challenges. The results of this survey will also help us to lobby and campaign for change for a better Northern Ireland for all our families, children and young people.

By "Parents" we mean anyone in a "parenting role", and who has parental responsibilities. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete, if you don’t want to answer a question, you can skip to the next one or you can withdraw from the survey at any point, although we would encourage you to complete the survey in full.

Parenting NI takes data protection and information security very seriously. We will not share your personal information with any other organisation. More information is available at https://www.parentingni.org/privacy-policy/

This survey will close at 5pm on the 26th Feb. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Emma by email at emma.hitchen@parentingni.org or phone 02890 310891. Thank you for your time and support. To start the survey please click 'OK'.

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* 1. We understand that every parent hopes that their child will be happy, healthy and that they will receive a good education. Do you think society’s hopes for your children are the same as your own?

Yes

If no, what are the differences?

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* 2. Do you think these hopes are achievable in Northern Ireland at the moment?

Yes

Don’t know

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* 3. What currently helps you achieve these hopes?

Good family support

Strong social networks/friends

Faith/Church support

Community support

Voluntary sector support (including charities such as Parenting NI)

Support from government

Other, please specify:

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* 4. On a scale of 1 (very poor) to 10 (very good) how would you rate your own emotional and mental health at the moment?

1 (very poor)

10 (very good)

1 (very poor)

10 (very good)

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* 5. Please choose the top three areas that have caused you concern or that have negatively affected your emotional health and wellbeing over the past 6 months:

Your child’s education

Concerns relating to your child(ren’s) mental health

Social isolation

Financial issues

Loneliness

Concerns relating to your child(ren’s) physical health

Concern related to NI's political situation

Separation

Other, please specify

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* 6. Do you think the current cost of living crisis has had a negative affect on your mental health?

Yes

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* 7. Do you think parents get enough help and support for their mental health? Please explain.

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 8. If you were looking for help or support as a parent for your mental health, which of the following would you most like to receive?

Peer support; with other parents

Parenting programme

Free phone/Helpline

Online support

Counselling

Other, please specify

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* 9. If you were looking for help or support as a parent in general, which of the following would you most like to receive?

Online support – videos/ articles etc

Freephone line

Face-to-face appointment in a venue

One to one appointment online

Parenting programme

Parent counselling

Parenting App (downloaded on your phone or device)

Home visit

Support group with other parents

Other, please specify

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* 10. If you seek online support, which of the following would you most like to receive? (Please choose up to 3)

Podcasts

Blogs

Articles

Videos

Infographs

Live webchat

Parenting App (downloaded on your phone or device)

Other, please specify

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* 11. What, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges in early childhood? - Primary School aged children (Please choose 3)

Technology

Peer pressure

Money

Bullying

School related issues

Children’s behavioural issues

Mental Health

Separation

Violence or abuse

Vaping

Gender/Sexuality

Other, please list

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* 12. What, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges for older children/young people - Post - Primary? (Please choose 3)

Technology

Peer pressure

Money

Bullying

School related issues

Children’s behavioural issues

Mental Health

Separation

Violence or abuse

Vaping

Gender/Sexuality

Breakdown in communication

Other, please list

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* 13. Are you more hopeful or worried regarding parenting in the future?

Hopeful

Worried

Please explain:

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* 14. Do you have any other comments about your experiences as a parent?

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* 15. Do you identify as?

Male

Female

Other (please specify)

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* 16. What age band are you in?

18-34

35-44

45-54

55+

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* 17. Describe your family?

Single Parent

Married

Separated

Kinship

Step parent

Carer

Other (please specify)

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* 18. Do you consider yourself to belong to an ethnic minority group?

Yes

If yes, please specify

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* 19. Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation?

Straight/Heterosexual

Gay or Lesbian

Prefer not to say

Other sexual orientation (please specify)

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* 20. What is your religious/community background?

Catholic

Protestant

Neither Catholic or Protestant

Prefer not to say

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* 21. Do you consider yourself to have a disability?

Yes

If yes, please specify

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* 22. How many children do you have?

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* 23. Do any of your children have a disability/additional need/ special educational need?

Yes

If yes, please specify

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* 24. What ages are your children?

	0-3 years	4-7 years	8-11 years	12-15 years	16-19 years	19+ years
Child 1	Child 1 0-3 years	Child 1 4-7 years	Child 1 8-11 years	Child 1 12-15 years	Child 1 16-19 years	Child 1 19+ years
Child 2	Child 2 0-3 years	Child 2 4-7 years	Child 2 8-11 years	Child 2 12-15 years	Child 2 16-19 years	Child 2 19+ years
Child 3	Child 3 0-3 years	Child 3 4-7 years	Child 3 8-11 years	Child 3 12-15 years	Child 3 16-19 years	Child 3 19+ years
Child 4	Child 4 0-3 years	Child 4 4-7 years	Child 4 8-11 years	Child 4 12-15 years	Child 4 16-19 years	Child 4 19+ years
Child 5	Child 5 0-3 years	Child 5 4-7 years	Child 5 8-11 years	Child 5 12-15 years	Child 5 16-19 years	Child 5 19+ years
Child 6	Child 6 0-3 years	Child 6 4-7 years	Child 6 8-11 years	Child 6 12-15 years	Child 6 16-19 years	Child 6 19+ years

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* 25. What type of school does/did your child attend? Please tick all that apply

	Surestart/Childminder	Pre-school	Primary	Secondary	Grammar	Integrated	SEN School	Traning/Apprenticeship	Not in School
Child 1	Child 1 Surestart/Childminder	Child 1 Pre-school	Child 1 Primary	Child 1 Secondary	Child 1 Grammar	Child 1 Integrated	Child 1 SEN School	Child 1 Traning/Apprenticeship	Child 1 Not in School
Child 2	Child 2 Surestart/Childminder	Child 2 Pre-school	Child 2 Primary	Child 2 Secondary	Child 2 Grammar	Child 2 Integrated	Child 2 SEN School	Child 2 Traning/Apprenticeship	Child 2 Not in School
Child 3	Child 3 Surestart/Childminder	Child 3 Pre-school	Child 3 Primary	Child 3 Secondary	Child 3 Grammar	Child 3 Integrated	Child 3 SEN School	Child 3 Traning/Apprenticeship	Child 3 Not in School
Child 4	Child 4 Surestart/Childminder	Child 4 Pre-school	Child 4 Primary	Child 4 Secondary	Child 4 Grammar	Child 4 Integrated	Child 4 SEN School	Child 4 Traning/Apprenticeship	Child 4 Not in School
Child 5	Child 5 Surestart/Childminder	Child 5 Pre-school	Child 5 Primary	Child 5 Secondary	Child 5 Grammar	Child 5 Integrated	Child 5 SEN School	Child 5 Traning/Apprenticeship	Child 5 Not in School
Child 6	Child 6 Surestart/Childminder	Child 6 Pre-school	Child 6 Primary	Child 6 Secondary	Child 6 Grammar	Child 6 Integrated	Child 6 SEN School	Child 6 Traning/Apprenticeship	Child 6 Not in School

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* 26. Do you claim free school meals for your child(ren)?

Yes

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* 27. What council area do you live in?

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Ards and North Down Borough Council

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Belfast City Council

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

Derry City and Strabane District Council

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Mid Ulster District Council

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Don’t know

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* 28. What health trust do you live in?

Belfast HSC Trust

South Eastern HSC Trust

Western HSC Trust

Southern HSC Trust

Northern HSC Trust

Don’t know

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* 29. What type of area do you live in?

Rural area

Town

City

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* 30. Parenting NI would like to send you our newsletter. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive our newsletter please tick ‘Yes’ and provide your email in the box provided. If you do not wish to receive Parenting NI’s newsletter please tick no.

Yes

Email address: