Uncovering Parental Urban Mobility and Amenity Visits through Large-scale GPS Data

Abstract. Recent social media data analysis suggests that children from low-income families are more likely to exceed their parents’ income if exposed to interactions with high-income individuals. This highlights the potential of understanding parental behavior to break the cycle of poverty. Using detailed human mobility data, this study estimated the movements of parents with young children, extracted by focusing on drop-off activities in childcare facilities. The differences between parents and non-parents were analyzed with respect to time spent at home, visiting tendencies, and frequency of visits to various locations. It was shown that parents raising children spend significantly more time at home and explored new locations less frequently than non-parents. Budget-conscious dining patterns were also observed, with parents visiting establishments such as restaurants and bars less frequently while frequenting supermarkets and fast food outlets more. Additionally, parents operated within a smaller activity radius. These findings provide a foundation for understanding parental social interactions and offer insights for improving urban support policies for low-income families, contributing to data-driven approaches to social inclusion.