Does A Two Parent or a Single Parent Household Have a Greater Influence over a Child’s Development?
Does a two parent or a single parent household have a greater influence over a child’s development?
Introduction
Every parent has the desire to raise happy, healthy, and successful children of good character. A child is also born of parents from two different sexes. The parents are usually the pillar and symbol of success. Among a myriad of other environmental factors, studies have shown that the type of household affects a child’s general development. On average, findings in various researches depict consistent evidence that a child develops better in a household with two parents from either gender. It is presumed that both men and women have their own importance in the lives of their children. While the father may deal with paternally related issues, the mother may help in training the child in various aspects. Therefore, both parents are quite necessary in the life of a child.
In their landmark study, Simons, Les, Whitbeck, Conger & Katherine (1991) clearly show the role of each parent in the development of a child. Therefore, when one parent misses in the family, then the child depicts specific characteristics. These characteristics are a projection of the kind of atmosphere at home. Apparently, biology is a prime mover of development. However, most of the resultant characteristics of an individual are also dependent on the interaction between biology and the family context. Therefore, both single parent and two parent families have an impact in the child development.
Thesis
Family factors are the main determinants of a child’s development. Therefore, both parents have a role to play in the child’s development. A child’s development is positively impacted in a family with both parents that in one with one parent.
Gender roles may differ from one community to the other. However, when it comes to parenting, both parents play the same role in creating a child. Science explains each parent contributes at least fifty percent (50%) to the makeup of this child. Therefore, it is imperative that each parent contributes equally to the life of every child. Every parent has the discretion to shoulder their side of responsibility when it comes to bringing up the child. At the same time, it is not possible for these responsibilities to be catered for by a representative of any kind. In case this happens, it has a profound impact in the child’s life, and it is depicted in a variety of ways.
In his article, Arasteh (2008) claims that a child develops characters depending on how well each parent represented themselves in his or her life. In most cases, children growing up in families with both parents are almost completely different from those who grow up in single parent families. However, a number of factors also come into play.
The Structure of the Family
Lamb (1998) defined the family as the initial unit in which any child has a continuous contact. It is the first context where all aspects of socialization develop. He also explains that any form of development in a child is considerably influenced by the interpersonal associations within the family. Osborne & McLanahan (2007) further explain that the outcome of children is dependent on how the two parents behave around each other and towards the child.
Responsible and dedicated parents are capable of bringing up proper children. These children usually perform well in academics, behave well, are socially compatible and generally do well in almost every aspect of their lives. Parents who are emotionally stable usually give the much needed affection and protection to a child. These are evidently crucial for the general development of that child (Lamb, 1998). Both parents are responsible for the development of a child in a specific way. For instance, the father plays paternal roles while the mother plays maternal roles. Both have significant impacts in the development of a child regardless of sex. This brings us to the pertinent question of the effects of lack of one parent.
Losing one person in a team of two people destroys the relationship or associations in the family. As a result, the child does not have an adult example to learn from. Moreover, there is no one to play the role of the missing parent. In this case, there is a higher risk for emotional, educational and behavioral, and problems in a family with a single parent. The apparent advantage of a family with two parents is that it enhances effective parenting. However, this is not a guarantee to success. Generally, a favorable environment for a child is one with two parents who are, responsible, loving, supportive, emotionally balanced and morally upright. For this to happen successfully, the parents also have to be supportive and considerate of each other.
The Function of the Family
Basically, a family forms the basis of any society. A failure on its part is depicted by the society (Crossman & Gerald, 2000). The organization of the family has a profound effect on the general development in children. First, the family forms the initial social relationship in a child. This is where all children obtain their initial experiences of being taken as individuals in their own right. Furthermore, children receive care in a time of dependency and attention in return for their social skills. Less or poor attention leads to lack of skills to be used in social relations. Each parent provides a specific type of attention that is required by the child.
Secondly, psychologists provide evidence that the kind of care and attention given to children in their early years of life affect their way of handling things in the future. This ability equips children for creating ties with other people, unrelated to the family later in life (Lamb, 1998). Scientific experiments and psychological evaluations have led to the conclusion that newborns are entirely ignorant that they are separate and distinct individuals. However, this knowledge is created as they develop. Children become aware of their individuality and also other members in the family. Children learn that just like themselves, everyone has personal wishes, needs and interests of their own. This is where they learn to share and be considerate of the welfare of others. They also get to learn how to cooperate and compete well. For example, children learn how to socialize with the opposite sex from the way parents treat each other. In the right environment children turn out as proper human beings. In this way, the family plays an important role in child development.
Apart from the aforementioned roles, the family is also a place where children satisfy their need for basic, secondary and other kinds of needs. They also receive support in the form of support and love in the form of companionship. Both parents are necessary for the formation of values in children. The family also provides discipline for the child. Parents who are perceptive realize the need for gentleness and firmness. This should be meted out by both parents (Simon, Les, Whitbeck, Conger and Katherine, 1991).
In their research, Simon, Les, Whitbeck, Conger and Katherine, (1991) reveal that the father’s role is to ensure that there is social order. He is also the basic model of masculinity for both the sons and daughters. For the son, the father provides masculine identity while for the daughter he is the basis with which she develops the images for male companions. Boys know how to behave like men and how to treat women from their fathers. On the other hand, the mother is usually the primary parent. Without her, the children are likely to miss the nurture and care required for proper development.
Parental absence
Psychologists have done a lot of research to find out if the lack of a parent affects child development. The answer has been consistent throughout the years; the absence of a single parent has a profound and significant impact in a child. For example; Lamb (1998) insists that there is no one else who can stand for a parent in a child’s life. The absence of a parent is one of the main causes of problems in adjustment and functioning. For example, in their findings, Simon, Les, Whitbeck, Conger and Katherine, (1991) explain that children from single parent families are aggressive and incapable of maintaining proper social relationships. This sentiment is further expressed by Crossman & Gerald (2000). They also give evidences for poor academic performance and characteristics similar to poor psychosocial development. Theories inferring from parental absence give evidences for lack of parental authority. Research has repeatedly indicated the benefits of positive father and mother involvement in a child’s life. The impacts arise from the experiences of children with both parents. Therefore, the lack of one parent in a family yields problems in a child. The lack of a parent impacts various aspects of a child.
Parental Impacts to Achievement of the Child
Scaffolding is an immensely indispensable part of learning. Just like building blocks, scaffolding allows the child to experiment and fail. This inculcates the culture of success and failure in a child Arasteh (2008). Developmental experts insist that a child should be allowed that chance to experiment and experience in order to enhance learning that would lead to achievement. It is both parents who help in providing this type of environment. For instance; while a mother teaches a child how to care for animals, the father may teach him how to get food for those animals. Some of these activities are satisfactory if done as a family. For instance; a family game like monopoly on certain days of the week can be useful. As such, both parents are necessary for equal contribution in the child’s life. The feeling of being together is quite effective in creating a learning environment.
Any child learns by interacting with the environment (Crossman & Gerald, 2000). This environment around the child is largely determined by the parents. Research conducted on this issue revealed that a child’s behavior is a reflection of the environment around the child. For example, a father creates an environment where the boy can learn how to be a man. At the same time, the mother creates an environment that allows the same boy to learn how to relate with the opposite sex. A child’s achievement in this sector is an achievement of how well the parents played their roles. Moreover, every individual is equipped with various capabilities. The contribution of both parents enhances the pool over which the child can get help thus increasing the chances of achievement.
The lack of one parent makes it almost impossible for the roles to be performed properly. For example, if a boy misses a mother, they may be unable to form proper relationships with females. Instead of being loving and respectful, the child may simply become aggressive towards the females. A similar scenario is observed in the case of a girl and the relationship with the opposite sex. Lamb (1998) argues that even without meeting a parent, it is quite easy to tell the kind of family they grew up in. Therefore, both parents have a stronger impact in a child’s life and general development.
Gender Formation and Role Development in Families
In the society, various roles are developed for specific genders. For instance; traditionally, a woman is required to cook and clean for her family while the man is required to provide for his family. Usually, a child develops interest for the roles of the parent they share a similar gender with. The boys tend to lean on fatherly roles while the girls learn how to perform chores that are left for them (Simons, Les, Whitbeck, Conger and Katherine, 1991). The child learns by imitation, observation and teachings from the said parent. The parent in this case is the primary caretaker.
The efficiency with which a child performs some of these functions is dependent on how well the parent executes them. In fact, in some societies, a parent was blamed if the child was unable to perform these functions as expected. For example, if a boy spends more time with the mother, knowing female like chores is almost inevitable. However, if both parents are available equally, it is easier for the child to differentiate female from male roles. Some studies suggest that unequal parental contribution is one of the main causes of the increase in gay and lesbian marriages. This is because some of these gender roles include the formation of sexuality.
General Effects of Single Parent Families to a Child Through available researches done on families, it is obvious that children from single parent households are mostly worse than their counterparts in homes with two parents. This is evident in every aspect including social relationships, academic achievement and general behavior among others (Lamb, 1998; Arasteh, 2008). Also, children from single parents are likely to have psychological problems related to emotional stress, depression and difficulties with social relationships. These effects are evident in various stages of life.
For example, research shows that adolescents from families with single parents are three times more likely to get depressed (Osborne & McLanahan, 2007). For example, in the United States of America, most criminals, rapists and other offenders are from households with single parents (Osborne & McLanahan, 2007). In schools, the most learners who fail in academics, are aggressive and violent are from single parent families. The statistics are actually astounding with the problems accompanying single parent families getting more volatile. At the same time, young infants fail to attain some psychological levels suggested by the psychologists Erikson (Lamb, 1998). Both parents enable an infant to develop trust. Failure to do this will lead to issues which manifest themselves as the child grows.
Problems found in a family with a single parent is usually not because of the parent raising the children, it is as a result of aspects related to parenting (Osborne & McLanahan, 2007). It is obvious that families with single parents mostly have financial inadequacies. Most of the problems emanate from here. For example, such children cannot acquire proper education levels this leads to low paying jobs thus lower economic achievement. This affects the self esteem of many individuals making it impossible for them to relate well with others.
Moreover, a single parent struggles to provide financially for the children. As a result, they end up failing to provide in other ways. For example, they are forced to be absent in various schooling, communication and home activities. It is also true that proper supervision and monitoring becomes almost impossible. This is not always the case in a household with both parents. The aforementioned effects are experienced in a positive way in households with both parents. In most cases, all those needs are met. Consequently, the child develops properly. Therefore, both single and two parent families have profound effects on a child.
Conclusion
A child develops depending on the kind of family structure they come from. This is because each parent has a fundamental role to play in a child’s life. In case a parent misses from a family, there is no one to stand in for them. It becomes impossible for a single parent to fulfill the roles of both parents. Therefore, such children suffer from specific inadequacies that are depicted in a negative way. For example, they are poor achievers, lack social skills and are generally violent. However, a family where both parents are involved rears proper children. Such children experience the care required from both parents. They depict positive characteristics. They seem to be more fulfilled, form proper social relationships and they are mostly achievers. It is imperative that both parents become aware of their roles and fulfill them to the best of their abilities.
References
Arasteh, J, D. (2008). Impact of Divorce, Single Parenting and Step parenting on Children. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Crossman, S, M., & Gerald R. A. (2000). Divorce, Single Parenting, and Child Development. Journal of Psychology, 205-210.
Lamb, M, E. (1998). Parenting and Child Development in "Nontraditional" Families. Chicago: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Osborne, C., & McLanahan, S. (2007). Partnership instability and child well-being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69, 1065-1083.
Simons, L., Les B., Whitbeck, R., Conger, D & Katherine J. (1991). Parenting Factors, Social Skills, and Value Commitments as Precursors to School Failure, Involvements with Deviant Peers, and Delinquent Behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 20(6): 645-664.
