SingleParenting:ResearchPaper

RebeccaEscutia

April4,2016

HD 300/Early Childhood Themes and Life Cycle Issues

Hacienda/La Puente Cohort

 Single parenting is becoming more common in the world we live in. While society has seen

single mothers struggle to provide for their children, it is becoming natural to see single fathers

experiencing the same struggles. More fathers are beginning to fight for custody of their children

and raising them on their own. Regardless of which single parent is raising the child, a question

arises. What are the factors in single parenting that can effect the development of a child?

Its known that single parenting comes with an increase of stress. A single parent must

provide various roles to a child who lacks a parent in the home. In the economy we live in today

there is a demand of two incomes needed to provide food and shelter.

Child support is an important source of income that a single parent can receive. Having that

extra income can help provide a less stressful environment in the home. Child support can help

provide a better living for the children, by helping single parents to purchase necessary materials

and services needed to meet the needs of the children.

Nonresident Fathers financial support can be additional economic resources for single

mothers and their children. Greater economic resources enable mothers to purchase the

necessary material goods and services, such as medical care, childcare or schools, and

books and toys, all of which improve developmental processes. Greater economic

resources may also reduce mothers psychological distress, which in turn will reduce

harsh parenting and thus benefit children. (McLoyd, 1998). (Choi, & Pyun, 2013,

Nonresident Fathers Financial Support, Informal Instrumental Support, Mothers

Parenting, and Child Development in Single Mother Families With Low Income, (p.

528)

Reducing the stress of the parent can reduce harsh parenting and benefit the child. There
was a study conducted in the journal listed above where they compared children who received

child support with those who did not receive child support. Studies showed that child support

benefits childrens behavioral and cognitive development. (p. 539)

Although not everyone is able to receive the extra financial support through child support,

this is one of the obstacles a single parent must face. Depending on the outcome and situation,

this can affect the cognitive and behavioral development of a child due to stress and low social

economic status. Due to the parent having to work long hours and extra days to make ends meet,

takes time away from the child. Lack of attention can cause the child to feel neglected, lonely

and have difficulty connecting with peers. This can also interfere with having a consistent

schedule in the home. Children need consistency to feel in control of their surroundings. When a

child lives with one working parent, a lot of the necessities are taken away from the childs daily

routine in the home.

When there is only one parent in the home, a specific role will always be missing from the

childs life. The missing role can affect a child in many ways.

Research showing differences between typical mothering task (e.g. bathing, clothing

children) and typical fathering task (e.g. recreational activities)(Dulfur, Howell, Downey,

Ainsworth & Lapray, 2008, Sex differences in Parenting Behaviors in Single-Mother

and Single-Father Households, (p. 1093)

This journal identifies mothers as nurturing and providing basic needs of a child. This

means bathing, feeding and providing a warm and nurturing environment. Where Fathers are

identified as being recreational. This role is to play with the child and spend time outdoors, often

doing hands on activities or playing sports.

 When there are two parents in the home those children get the best of both worlds.

Parents are able to take turns providing both indoor and outdoor experiences for their children.

When there is only one parent in the home that single parent is fighting against time and such

experiences may be lost. The family with two working parents is at an advantage over the single

parent. With only one income the parent may only be able to afford a studio apartment with very

limited space. The child in this family may not have a safe area to play outdoors. When a child is

unable to get physical activity on a daily basis it can affect their health. When a child does not

have time to play outdoors this can lead to stress, obesity, low energy, and can affect gross motor

skills in young children. This article also did a comparison and the findings were as follows:

The demographic comparisons between single fathers and single mothers were

consistent with previous studies that have suggested that single fathers are advantaged in

terms of socioeconomic status (Table 2) Relative to single mothers, single fathers had

higher incomes, were more likely white, slightly older, and were better educated. (p.

1099)

If a child is living in a home with a single mother, that child is going to have their basic

necessities met by their mother. This child however can face serious health problems for not

getting the physical activity the child needs due to lack of time and putting household chores as a

priority. If a child is living in a home with a single father, that child can be physically active and

have the opportunity to complete hands on tasks. However, this child may lack a social and

emotional connection. The priorities of both these parent roles are different from one another and

therefore can affect a child in many ways being raised by a single parent. Health, social

emotional awareness, and gross motor skills are at risk whether in a single mother or single
father home.

There are many different situations that a single parent and their children can face. There

are homes with single children, children with siblings and children living with their grandparents

or other relatives. Some families have to share a house with other families because its the only

way the single parent can afford to pay rent for a home to live in. Another stressful situation can

lead to custody. The non-residential parent may decide he or she wants visitation rights or share

custody of their child.

Nonresidential parenthood should no longer be thought of only in terms of the fathers.

The living arrangements of children with non resident parents are becoming increasingly

diverse. (Stewart, 2010, Children With Nonresident Parents: Living Arrangements,

Visitation, and Child Support, p. 1078)

Depending what kind of custody is granted through the court this can be very stressful on

the residential parent and the child. Having to go back and forth from one home to the other can

be difficult for the child in terms of what to expect out of their day. Not having a sense of their

own home can be bothersome for children who have a difficult time adjusting to things. This

child will experience different family dynamics, which could be diffult to cope with as a child.

Living at home with the primary parent and their lifestyle, then having to visit the home of the

nonresidential parent and their lifestyle can put a lot of pressure on a child. Transitioning from

one home to the other can be unstable and lack consistency. This situation can cause the child to

feel like their stuck in the middle. Sharing custody of children or having visitation rights consists

of communication between the parents. If there is lack of communication, then co parenting

skills are not utilized and can affect the child. The child can face lack of discipline, lack of

communication skills, and being stuck in a negative environment.

 Many different factors were discussed that can affect children who come from a single

parent home. Behavioral and cognitive development is affected. Health, such as gross motor

development, and other illnesses along with stress can affect a childs daily life. Social and

emotional and communication skills can also be affected through the daily struggles that single

families go through. There are many factors discussed that can potentially affect a childs

development.
 Reference List

Choi, J., & Pyun, H. (2014). Nonresident fathers financial support, informal instrumental

support, mothers parenting, and child development in single-mother families with low income.

Journal of Family Issues, 35(4), 526-546.

Dufur, M. J., Howell, N. C., Downey, D. B., Ainsworth, J. W., & Lapray, A. J. (2010).

Sex differences in parenting behaviors in single-mother and single-father households. Journal of

Marriage and Family, 72(5), 1092-1106. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00752.x

Stewart, S. D. (2010). Children with nonresident parents: Living arrangements, visitation,

and child support. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(5), 1078-1091. doi:10.1111/j.1741-

3737.2010.00751