Are we “overinvested” in our kids?

Are we “overinvested” in our kids?
- January 29, 2026
- Nina Bandelj, sociology, KQED, Jan. 29, 2026 (Audio)
-----
Parenting is central to our identities and we do what academics describe as “intensive parenting.” … in her new book, Overinvested, [UC Irvine Chancellor’s Professor of Sociology] Nina Bandelj argues that the data shows that how we’re doing child-rearing in this country has led to worsening outcomes for parents, kids, and society at large. “One could say parenting has always been hard. There’s this idea that it’s the hardest but most rewarding job – our parents did it, our grandparents did it. But there are important differences over time,” says Bandelj.
Listen in: https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912794/are-we-overinvested-in-our-kids
-----
Would you like to get more involved with the social sciences? Email us at communications@socsci.uci.edu to connect.
Related News Items
- Careet RightWhy are kids so overscheduled?
- Careet RightYou'll do anything for your baby. Algorithms know how to exploit that.
- Careet RightCalifornia childcare costs can be range from $10k to $25K a year for one child, study finds
- Careet RightOverinvested: The Emotional Economy of Modern Parenting
- Careet RightThe "Emotional Economy" of Parenting: A conversation with Nina Bandelj