Because of the Pandemic, Parents Are Less Strict with House Rules [Survey Reveals]

Based on a new survey, 75% of parents are less strict and relaxed now than when it comes to their house rules.

The new survey, where 2,000 American parents of school-aged children were the respondents, showed that parents are less strict now, and they are more relaxed about their existing house rules ever since the start of the lockdown. 75% of them confirmed that having every family member at home more often made them relax some of their house rules.

House rules like no eating in front of the TV (37%), no staying up past bedtime (27%), do not leave wet towels or dirty clothes lying on the floor (24%), and no using of phones at the dinner table (23%) are just some of the rules that parents are less strict of by now.

The survey

OnePoll surveyed on behalf of BISSELL Homecare, Inc. The survey also showed that 74% of the respondents agree that because family members are at home more often because of the pandemic, their house has never been dirtier and unkempt. Another factor as to why this happens is that parents are less strict now as well when it comes to their fur family members.

81% of the respondents who are also parents to pets such as cats and dogs confirmed that they have been treating their fur babies like an actual child more than ever because their family has been home now more often.

Parents and fur babies

Parents are less strict now as well when it comes to giving their fur babies more treats (47%), letting them lay on the couch or their beds (30%), as well as letting them play more, and letting them get dirtier outside (28%).

Notice that pets are now enjoying these standard perks more during this time. Because parents are less strict with their pets now more than ever before, it is no surprise that nearly 3 out of 4 pet owners confirmed that their pet's hair seems to pile up more quickly in their house ever since the start of the lockdown due to the pandemic.

Cleaning the houses

Since their homes are now more untidy than ever, 78% of the respondents agreed that at the moment, they have the urge to deep clean their houses. The average number of them desire to deep clean their homes four times more every week ever since the start of the pandemic.

Because family members are home more often for several months during this time, 7 out of 10 respondents said that they did not get to finish and complete their scheduled spring cleaning this year. On the other hand, 68% of them plan to have a fall cleaning this year to make up for their unfinished and incomplete spring cleaning. It does not mean, though, that they are dying to do it, since 77% of the respondents agree that since everyone is at home, cleaning this season will be more of a chore than it is ever before.