Millennial parents in the U.S. dedicate an average of 38 minutes each school day to driving their children to and from school activities, accumulating nearly 7,000 minutes annually. This time commitment is equivalent to almost 15 standard eight-hour workdays over a 180-day school year, according to a survey commissioned by Bob Evans and conducted by Talker Research.
The survey of 2,000 U.S. millennial parents with school-aged children indicates that the back-to-school season intensifies daily life for many, with 77% reporting that it makes their routines more hectic and unpredictable. Balancing their own schedules with their children's activities emerged as the primary source of friction for 52% of households.
Beyond the time spent driving, parents are grappling with rising costs. The price of school supplies and materials is a significant concern for 55% of respondents, and 71% noted an increase in overall back-to-school spending compared to the previous year. Adjusting to new school-year routines (42%) and planning weekday meals (41%) are also cited as challenges.
These demands lead parents to make personal sacrifices. Nearly half (49%) report giving up personal time or hobbies, while 40% sacrifice sleep to manage their responsibilities during the school year. To alleviate stress, parents indicate that easy-to-prepare meals (53%), increased sleep (52%), and assistance with grocery shopping (49%) would be most beneficial.
Dinnertime presents its own set of hurdles, with 90% of parents finding it challenging to come up with appealing meal ideas. Time and planning constraints (50%), dealing with picky eaters (46%), and decision fatigue (45%) contribute to these difficulties. Approximately 30% of parents worry multiple times a day about preparing dinner during the school week.
In response to busy schedules, 71% of parents have reevaluated their weeknight dinner preparation methods, with 54% stating they have less time for cooking than they would prefer. The average parent spends about 35 minutes preparing dinner on weeknights, and families eat together around four times weekly. This situation leads 66% of parents to feel overextended by the demands of preparing meals.
To cope, 78% of parents are likely to rely on quick and easy meal options during the back-to-school season. The use of convenient meal solutions has become more common, with over half of parents (58%) reporting an increase in their use of pre-made or easy-to-prepare meal components compared to the prior school year.
The survey was conducted online between May 28 and June 4, 2026.