What Should Children Learn?

To think for oneself is the most important thing children should learn to prepare them for life, according to the 2021 General Social Survey. Nearly half of Americans aged 18 or older say thinking for oneself is number one...

"If you had to choose, which thing on this list would you pick as the most important for a child to learn to prepare him or her for life?"

1. To think for himself or herself: 46.7% 

2. To work hard: 25.4% 

3. To help others when they need help: 21.0% 

4. To obey: 5.8%

5. To be well-liked or popular: 1.1%

Thinking for oneself has been at the top of this list since the General Social Survey first asked the question 35 years ago in 1986. Back then, a larger 51 percent of the public rated thinking for oneself as the most important thing children should learn. What trait has shaved a few percentage points off of thinking for oneself over the years? Learning to work hard. Working hard rose from fourth place in 1986 (11 percent) to second place in 2021 (25 percent). Learning to help others has also gained over the decades, with 21 percent of respondents in 2021 saying it is the most important thing children should learn—up from 14 percent who felt that way in 1986. Obedience fell to fourth place in 2021 (6 percent), down from second place (23 percent) in 1986. Popularity has never been very popular, ranking last in both 2021 and 1986.

You might think the attitudes of younger and older adults would differ on this question. In fact, there are few differences of opinion. Take a look at the 2021 results...

"If you had to choose, which thing on this list would you pick as the most important for a child to learn to prepare him or her for life?"

	Under 45	45-plus
1. To think for himself or herself	44.6%	49.4%
2. To work hard	25.1	25.2
3. To help others when they need help	24.3	18.2
4. To obey	4.1	6.8
5. To be well-liked or popular	2.0	0.8

Younger adults (under age 45) and older adults (aged 45 or older) both say thinking for oneself is the most important thing children should learn. Not only that, but the rankings are identical for the other four qualities. Hard work is second, helping others is third, obedience is in fourth place and popularity last. 

Source: Demo Memo analysis of the 2021 General Social Survey