Yoga, deep breathing, wine. There are many ways to make life less stressful, but this time of year, smartphones get the credit for being the best stress-reliever -- at least, for moms of school-aged children.
A recent survey shows that 85% of moms say "their smartphone definitely eases the back-to-school strain, making this time of year less stressful overall."
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Moms of all ages said their phones (whether basic or smart) ease their stress during this time of year: 89% under 35 vs. 85% 35–44 vs. 83% over 45. But the back-to-school season isn't the only time moms are glad to have their handy smartphones -- nearly nine in 10 smartphone-owning mothers of school-age kids (87%) admitted that having a smartphone has made being a mother, in general, easier for them.
This information comes from a survey called “Moms Go Back-To-School with Mobile” by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), and Meredith’s Parents Network, a parenthood media company that includes Parents and American Baby.
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So what tasks do moms use their phones for?
- Communication with children’s teachers and schools (33%)
- Organizing the family calendar (30%)
- Sharing back-to-school related information via social networks (28%)
- Staying in touch with other parents in their circle (26%)
- Finding coupons and store discounts (25%)
- Building and checking shopping lists (21%)
- Mobile shopping (20%)
“Back to school is the busiest and most stressful time of year for moms, and now, more than ever before, Millennial moms are using their smartphones to help make their lives run smoother,” Carey Witmer, executive vice president, Meredith Parents Network, said in a statement. “They pursue the information they want and need, everywhere they go, every time of the day."
The survey also unveiled a trend regarding "mobile-intense" moms. It's often moms of preschool-aged children that are quick to take out their camera phone to snap a pic of their child (56%), more so that mothers of elementary (44%) and high school kids (33%). Mothers of preschoolers are also most likely that moms of older children to plan their family's calendar on a mobile device and share information on social networks?
Findings of this survey are based on a total of 500 respondents, 375 of whom own a smartphone. The total sample is weighted to reflect actual smartphone ownership rates among moms with kids as reported by Nielsen.
Does owning a smartphone make parenting easier? Tell us in the comments.
Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, fotostorm
This story originally published on Mashable here.