Go RVing’s monthly trends report for May includes an look at trends in how millennial parents raise their children. .
Go RVing said millennial parents are parenting differently than earlier generations, primarily focusing on being present in their children’s day-to-day lives. Two common themes, found in research by the Pew Research Center and Salon, include focusing on emotions and prioritizing experiences.
Millennial parents are encouraging their children to feel their feelings, rather than suppressing them. Also, these parents emphasize trips to a museum or making homemade items through arts and crafts over material gifts such as toys.
Millennial parents also are sharing their parenting on social media. Go RVing said the social media hashtag #6months is shared every hour by parents posting about their children’s milestones. YouTube is a source for millions seeking guidance on parenting topics, Go RVing said. A result of digital sharing is increased screen time for children 8-18, who spend as much as 7.5 hours a day watching content.
“As millennial parents seek stimulating and meaningful experiences for their children, Go RVing has prioritized messaging focus leveraging RVing as an exciting way to build deeper bonds with their kids,” Go RVing said. “Emphasizing the family-friendly experiences, learning opportunities and decreased screen time will push RV trips higher in young families’ consideration sets from just an option to an all-in-one vacation solution.”
Go RVing cited a GWI report that found millennials with children under age 12 were 35% more likely to post online about parenting than Gen X parents. A YouGov survey found young parents are 35% more likely to be interested in parenting than five years ago.
The trends report also noted information finding young adults are seeking nostalgic hobbies their older relatives used to enjoy. Among the hobbies seeing increased interest are knitting, crocheting and coin collecting.
“Millennials and Gen Z are looking to the nostalgia of simpler times for comfort in what they feel is an increasingly chaotic world,” Go RVing said. “Go RVing is strategically looking to bring in younger buyers that have childhood RV experiences and can leverage nostalgia in the form of famous RV pop culture moments in movies and RV or even real stories of family RV trips.”
