Colorado kids of different ages and backgrounds were asked to share the questions they felt presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney should answer during their debates. These cute and clever kids also share their favorite hobbies and what they want to be when they grow up. Some of the silly and serious questions these kids want to ask include:
Do you like dinosaurs?
How will you decrease childhood obesity?
Will you make the school year shorter?
How can you help me pay for college?
What are you doing to improve children’s health care?
Parents partnered with The Center for the Next Generation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort that aims to help the country come together to create a stronger future for our children. As we gear up for our first presidential debate on October 3—which focuses on domestic policy—we want the candidates to know about parents’ biggest concerns. This infographic spells it out in no uncertain terms.
The big story, of course, is how the recession has impacted all of us. A full 90 percent believe that there aren’t enough jobs that pay enough to support a family. More than a quarter of parents have had to work longer hours (or their partner has) because of the economic downturn. It’s directly affected children, too: 36 percent of parents say that they haven’t been able to afford for their kids to participate in some of the activities their friends participate in.
And in one of the most eye-opening findings, nearly 20 percent of parents said that the recession contributed to their decision not to have another child.
This is surely why two-thirds of parents, when asked to choose between an extra $10,000 per year or an extra hour every day of quality time with their children, opted for the money. It makes you wonder: If you were given the choice, what would you pick?
Here’s hoping that when President Obama and Governor Romney meet in Denver next week, they address the issues that cause so much of the anxiety that goes hand-in-hand with post-recession parenthood.
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