Few Americans say raising young kids is more trouble than it's worth
Core finding
Verasight surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults from August 13 to 18, 2026. The rewards of parenting young children outweigh the challenges for 43.4% of Americans. Just 7.3% say the challenges win out, and 16.9% call it even.
Rewards greatly outweigh challenges for 34.7%. The shares cover all adults, including the 32.4% without children.
Topline scale
Few Americans say raising young kids is more trouble than it's worth.
Thinking about your life overall, do the rewards of parenting young children outweigh the challenges, do the challenges outweigh the rewards, or are they about equal?
n = 1,000 · Aug 13–18, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Aug 13–18, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.2% |
| Module | Verasight JSM and Quirk's Omnibus Survey |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-quirks-2026
Thinking about your life overall, do the rewards of parenting young children outweigh the challenges, do the challenges outweigh the rewards, or are they about equal?
Cite this question
JSM and Quirk's Omnibus Survey, fielded August 13-18, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.