Not knowing the current chart hits or their lyrics, struggling to work an iPhone and having no idea what ‘twerking’ is are among the things that make parents ‘uncool’, a new study has revealed. Researchers found that failing to keep up with modern music and technology means almost four in ten parents consider themselves to be out of touch with the younger generation.
And one in four of those polled even admitted they reckon their children see them as ‘very uncool’.
Their dress sense, owning a ‘sensible’ car and even being a smoker are also among the things that make parents feel old-fashioned.
It also emerged that three in ten parents even read up on things like celebrities, pop music or social media to keep up with their children or their children’s friends and avoid being deemed ‘embarrassing’ or ‘uncool’.
A spokesman for Modern Family, which commissioned the research to mark the Blu-ray and DVD release of Season Four of the Emmy Award-winning TV show, said:
“I’m sure many parents worry about what their children think of them as they get older, especially nowadays when there are so many new technologies and celebrities to keep up to date with.
“No-one wants to be the uncool and old-fashioned parent that all the kids find amusing, traits that the hilarious Phil Dunphy is constantly trying to avoid in the show.
“But it’s inevitable that at some stage, your children are going to look at you as anything but hip and trendy – the same as most of us thought about our parents at some stage.
“If, like Phil, you try too hard to keep up with your children and their friends, there is a danger you could end up even more uncool than you were in the first place.
“However, the good news is that it’s more than likely just a phase and your children will once again see you as their cool mom or dad.”
The study, of 2,000 parents who have children aged between 13 and 25, found that having no idea what song is at number one in the charts is most likely to leave them feeling uncool, followed by failing to work an iPhone without asking for help.
Not being able to sing along to chart songs, their dress sense and owning a sensible car completed the top five.
Other ‘uncool’ actions on the list include not knowing what Spotify is, having no idea who Harry Styles is and wanting to go on nights out with their offspring and their friends.
Trying to get on too well with their children’s friends and not being able to work the TV or DVD player are also among the ‘uncool’ triggers.
It’s not just a lack of knowledge that leaves parents questioning their ‘coolness’ though as simply not letting their children have the same things as their friends means they feel like they are out of touch.
Refusing to let their children stay out late, get an ear piercing, open a Facebook account or have a mobile phone are all among the top 30.
Researchers also found that eight in ten believe all children will consider their parents to be uncool at some stage in their lives, with the secondary school years named as the period they are most likely to view mom and dad as old-fashioned.
But three quarters reckon it’s a phrase their son and daughter will soon grow out of, with 85% admitting they viewed their own parents as uncool at some stage when they were younger.
And just 15% are worried that their ‘old-fashioned’ behavior is an embarrassment to their children.
A spokesman for Modern Family added:
“Most parents have a little bit of Phil and Claire Dunphy in them, even if they wouldn’t openly admit it! There’s nothing to be ashamed of trying desperately to keep up with the kids, but it’s a fact of life that our kids will always have a little bit of shame when we try too hard!”
Modern Family is out now on Blu-ray and DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Top 30 things that make parents feel uncool
- Not knowing what is number 1 in the charts
- Not being able to work an iPhone
- Not knowing the words to current songs
- Their dress sense
- Owning a sensible car
- Not seeing the attraction in computer games
- Now knowing what ‘twerking’ is
- Not knowing what Spotify is
- Not letting the children stay out late
- Making the children wear the correct school uniform
- Singing and dancing around the house
- Being a smoker
- Their hairstyle
- Wanting to join the children on nights out
- Not knowing who Harry Styles is
- Not letting the children get their ears pierced
- Not letting the children have Facebook account
- Not letting the children have a mobile phone
- Not knowing how to work the TV/DVD player
- Not understanding the need for cable TV
- Having a Facebook account
- Not letting children wear what they want
- Boasting about my children on Facebook
- Getting on well with their children’s friends
- Not allowing the children to have a tattoo
- Being a terrible cook
- Having a tattoo
- Not allowing the children to have an iPad
- Not having a tattoo
- Being too house proud
