Boomerang KidsMARIA GARCIA

What is a Boomerang Kid?•A Boomerang Kid is any young adult who goes back to live with a parent after a period of independence.

Why Is This Issue Important?•Virtually every aspect of our lives is affected by the emergence of Boomerang Kids.

•The main issue is not adult children moving back home; the issue is what it reflects about the economy: debt and cost of living are increasing, while jobs and salaries are decreasing.

• In order to help our society, improve our economy, and protect our futures, we need to get informed on this issue and take action!

Statistics• More than ½ of recent college graduates are

unemployed or underemployed (Davidson).

• Nearly 45% of 25 year olds have outstanding loans with debt averaging at around $20,000 (Davidson).

• According to Katherine Newman, sociologist and author of The Accordion Family, 3.4 million American parents shared a home with their adult children in 2009, up from 2.1 million in 2000 (37).

• The Census Bureau reports that nearly 60% of young adults ages 18-24 were living with parents in 2005 (Newman, 42).

Increase in Boomerang Kids Over the Last Decade

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 20120

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Trend of Boomerang Households

American Parents Sharing a Home with Their Adult Children (In Millions)Linear (American Parents Sharing a Home with Their Adult Children (In Millions))

Year

Mill

ions

of

House

hold

s

Source: MacroMonitor

Common Explanations for the Rise in Boomerang Kids• People born in late 80’s and early 90’s came of age amid

several unfortunate and overlapping economic trends (Davidson)

• Those who graduated college as the housing market and financial system were imploding face the highest debt burden of any graduating class in history (Davidson).

• The primary cause for our generation’s delay in reaching independence is economic development (Kamenetz, 2).

• The single biggest cost young people face in establishing their independence is housing (Newman, 49).

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOOMERANG KIDS• Helicopter parents

• Vague future plans

• Competitive economy

• Significant college debt

• Housing costs

• Later marriage age

• Economic conditions of families

Median Marriage Ages Trend• The median age range

has been rising for both men and women since about the 1950s.

• Over the last decade alone, the median age has risen by at least a whole year for both genders.

• Later marriage age is just another reason for why Boomerangs do not feel the need to “leave the nest.”

Men Women

1960 22.8 20.3

1970 23.2 20.8

1980 24.7 22.0

1990 26.1 23.9

2000 26.8 25.1

2010 28.2 26.1

Source :http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005061.html

What Do the Experts Say?• For my research, I reached out to 18 professors from

different fields of study at UNC Charlotte.

• Out of those I contacted, only 3 were able to help.

• I spoke to Sociology professor Dr. Rosemary Hopcroft and 2 Psychology professors: Dr. George Demakis and Dr. Kimberly Buch.

• Here is a link to the questions from a Sociological Perspective

• Here is also a link to the questions from a Psychological Perspective.

Expert 1: Psychologist,Dr. Demarkis’ Answers• When asked what some of the contributing factors to the

rise in Boomerang Kids, Demarkis replied, “Probably a variety of factors, some psychological, some social. Psychologically, adolescence lasts longer. These days folks simply don’t mature quickly or assume the roles as quickly as they did a generation ago.”

• When asked what kind of parenting styles could lead to generating boomerang-like qualities, Demarkis answered, “ Probably permissive parenting. Perhaps more indulgent parenting leading to more entitled kids.”

• Demarkis also thinks this issue arises from a more permissive, self-focused society.

Expert 2: Sociologist,Dr. Hopcroft’s Answers• Dr. Hopcroft correctly believes that being a

Boomerang Kid is not necessarily a bad thing. She tells me that student loans play a big role in a student’s decision to move back home.

• She points to student loans, debt, rising tuition, declining of economy, and comfort of home for reasons in the increase in Boomerang kids.

• Hopcroft, like many other parents of Boomerang kids, remarks that she enjoys the time she spends with her son and that she enjoys having him at the house.

Expert 3: Psychologist,Dr. Buch’s Answers• Dr. Buch said “Baby Boomer parents are well-off financially,

relative to previous generations, and have the resources to help their children. Baby Boomers’ parenting styles are supportive and [they] want to provide many opportunities for their children’s growth and personal development,” when asked about what possible factors could be at work behind this phenomenon.

• She thinks, psychologically speaking, that this trend may have originated from a “desire to ensure children’s success through greater investment in their children, both financially and emotionally.”

• This issue “can, but does not necessarily, result in children who lack independence and who rely on others for direction or support.” says Buch.

Case Study 1: Anonymous• Age: 27; Gender: Female

• Questions to Interview can be found here.

• Some challenges the participant reported about moving back home were that her parents were concerned about what time she gets home, where she is and who she is with.

• The benefits are that she saves money, and that she and her parents have become best friends.

• The main reason she moved back home was because she lost her job.

• Fortunately, she does not feel pressured to leave, or stay, but she would prefer to live on her own and be self-sufficient.

Case Study 2: Anonymous• Age: 24; Gender: Female

• This participant reported dissatisfaction with moving back in with parents. Not surprisingly, she states that her relationship with her parents has worsened since she moved back. Furthermore, she emphasizes the difficulty of readjusting to house rules and lack of privacy after having so much freedom, previously.

• Her main reason for remaining at home is financial stability. She also has a number of friends that are also “Boomerang Kids”, mostly those moving back from college or after finishing military service.

• She is currently not working in her field of study, and while her income does allow room to pay student loans, it leaves her budget very tight.

• She would like to move to move out as soon as possible, hopefully within the next 6 months.

Analyzing Case Studies• There is a clear difference between the answers of the

two young women I interviewed. This just shows how particular each situation is.

• Some people experience improved parental relations, while others experience a deterioration in the relationships.

• Saving money had a heavy impact on both of their decisions to move home.

• Some people feel pressure from themselves and/or their parents to move, while others don’t sense any kind of pressure at all.

• Cultural differences may also play a part in these cases.

Pros and Cons of Moving Back HomePros Cons

• Familial support• Saving money

on rent, food, and other services.

• Better Food• Familiar

Surroundings

• Loss of independence

• Less freedom• Must adhere to

house rules• Must readjust to

chores and curfews

“It’s Not All Bad”

Here are some of the benefits of being a boomerang kid or living with one.

What Can BOOMERANG KIDS Do to End the Cycle?

• Recognize the need for a change.

• Find motivation.

Recognize

• Ask yourself where you see yourself 5 years from now.

Make a Plan• Stick to your

plan, or make adjustments accordingly.

Follow Through

“If you don’t hurry up and let life know what you want, life will damned soon show you what you’ll get.”

-Robertson Davies

What Can THE FAMILIES of Boomerang Kids Do to End the Cycle?

• Show your children you support and believe in them!Offer

Emotional Support

• Work with them to set short and long term goals.

Plan Ahead• It may take

time for them to find their way.

Be Patient!

What Can POTENTIAL Boomerang Kids Do to End the Cycle?

• Become familiar with the issue. You may be next.

Get Educated

• Learn from this generation’s mistakes.

Recognize Possible Errors • Live within

your means & save as much as you can!

Be Proactive!

In the Meantime…• 6 Tips for Living with Boomerang Kids (Santiago)• 1. Discuss Expectations

• 2. Set ground rules and time limits

• 3. Avoid being an enabler

• 4. Share household costs or chores

• 5. Prepare for money requests

• 6. Compel child to start saving

Myth BustingMYTHS

• Moving back in with parents indicates laziness.

• Moving back in with parents indicates failure.

• All Boomerang Kids are wasting their education.

REALITY

• Moving back home may just be a practical, long-term financial move.

• There is a huge negative impact to graduating into a recession.

• A college degree no longer guarantees a job, like it did for previous generations.

Conclusion• Based on my primary and secondary research, I have come to a

more clear understanding on Boomerang Kids.

• Contrary to popular belief, this phenomenon should not necessarily reflect poorly on the individuals. Rather, it should suggest a growing problem in society due to the state of the economy.

• Being a Boomerang Kid is not necessarily a bad thing, either. Some parents enjoy having their kids live with them.

• Of course, the main reason most people move back home is because they do not have the means to support themselves.

• It is unfair to compare this generation to previous ones, because its members are at a huge disadvantage, since they graduated into great economic instability.

Bibiography• Bayles, Kate. "What Is Helicopter Parenting?" Parents Magazine. Meredith Corporation,

2013. Web. 20 Oct.

• "Boomerang Generation." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Oct. 2014. Web. 21 Oct.

2014.

• Davidson, Adam. "It’s Official: The Boomerang Kids Won’t Leave." The New York Times. The

New York Times, 21 June 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

• Kamenetz, Anya. Generation Debt: Why Now Is a Terrible Time to Be Young. New York:

Riverhead /Penguin, 2006. Print.

Bibliography (cont.)• Koslow, Sally. Slouching toward Adulthood: Observations from the Not-so-empty Nest. New York:

Viking, 2012. Print.

• "MacroMonitor Market Trends Newsletter." MacroMonitor Market Trends Newsletter. Strategic

Business Insights, 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.

• Newman, Katherine S. The Accordion Family: Boomerang Kids, Anxious Parents, and the Private

Toll of Global Competition. Boston: Beacon, 2012. Print.

• Santiago, Steve. "6 Tips for Living with Boomerang Kids." 6 Tips for Living with Boomerang Kids.

Bankrate, Inc., 2014. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.