Single Parenting

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Single Parenting

Single parents and their children constitute a rapidly increasing population. In the past single parenting was seen as a broken system, these units today provide a viable alternative to nuclear families (Kleist, 1999, p. 1). In looking at the characteristics of single parents raising healthy children, I will describe some of the challenges unique to single parenting, and review positive parenting techniques shown to be effective.

Social Development has not prepared individuals to be single parents. Single mothers and single fathers need to establish strong support networks, personal friendships, and positive parenting skills. They need to learn how to synchronize the demands of work, home-care, and supervision of children (Benson, 1993). They need to enforce limits, rules, and boundaries consistently, and to transmit responsibility and values, in order to raise responsible, self-controlled, and healthy children (Cloud, and Townsend, 1998). They need to find ways to improve and maintain their self-esteem. Many single parents learn to live on reduced incomes, find acceptable ways to deal with non-custodial parent, and redefine their relationships with their children. These are but a few of the challenges facing single parents (Benson, 1993).

Raising healthy children has more to do with the emotional well being of its members then on family composition (Heath, 1999). So then, how do single parents foster emotional well being amongst its members, while maintaining a full schedule of work, education, day care, deadlines, finances? It may be difficult and exhausting at times, but it is possible, and the rewards are many (Heath, 1999, p. 429).

According to Heath, some of the areas affecting positive outcomes are family stability, self-esteem, and positive parenting (p 429). Our job as parents is to transmit values and the tools necessary for our children to be healthy adults being able to function in the world responsibly and with self-control (Cloud, and Townsend, 1998).

Family Stability

Children need to feel safe. They shouldn’t have to worry about their needs being met. They need structure and routine in order to feel safe and know what to expect. Family conflicts need to be resolved in productive ways. Home should be a balance of function, security, and serenity. Family stability is fostered through family values and family t...

... middle of paper ...

...rk: It is obtainable though. Through special effort, the development of family systems were member feel a sense of well being and through positive parenting practices, single parent families can have strong families in which children can thrive.

Works Cited:

Bensen, P. L., & Roehlkepartain, E. (1993). Single Parent Families. MN: Search Institute.

Cloud, H., & Townsend, J. (1998). Boundaries with kids. Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.

Craig, C. J., & Baucum, D. (2002). Human development. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

De’ath, E. (2000, Sept.). Parenting matters—what works in parent education. The British Journal of Educational Psychology, 70(3), 462-463.

DeFrancis, B. (1994). The Art of Discipline. Never hit a child. Retrieved June 9, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.neverhitachild.org/artodis1/

Heath, T. (1999, July). Single mothers, single fathers. Journal of Family Issues, 20(4), 429-430.

Kleist, D. M. (1999, Oct.). Single-parent families: A difference that makes a difference? Family Journal, 7(4), 373-378.

Parenting 101. (2002). Child Parenting. Retrieved June 7, 2002 from About.com on the World Wide Web: http://www.childparenting.about.com/

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