Thursday 11 July 2013

Theoretical Perspectives on Single Parenting

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Says Who? 
John Bowlby's attachment theory suggests that secure attachment between a parent and child makes parenting easier and supports parent/child intimacy, which enhances the child's sense of worth
How does this relate to single-parent families?
Lack of interaction between the children of single-parent families and their parents can result in attachment issues that can compromise the effectiveness of parenting strategies, and result an overwhelming amount of stress on custodial parents as they endeavor to carry out their parenting responsibilities.
A close relationship between the single-parent and the child fosters the child's social-emotional development and decreases behavioral concerns. 
Sigmund Freud suggests that the human psyche is by nature pleasure seeking.
How does this relate to single-parent families?
Single-parents who are experiencing the pain of separation is likely to resort to behaviors, that may be risky, yet provides them with the gratification they may need to deal with the stressors that they encounter.
B.F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning suggests that individuals tend to repeat behaviors that lead to favorable results.
How does this relate to single-parent families?
Many single-parents struggle with self reliance because their dependency on external supports is reinforced... For example, those who are welfare dependent may be better off financially that those who work.
Erick Erickson's theory of psychosocial developmental suggests if the caregiver is available, consistent, supportive and reliable children achieve developmental milestones which ultimately supports their trust, independence, self-awareness and desire to succeed.
How does this relate to single-parent families?
Children raised in single-parent households have the same developmental needs as other children. Therefore, if the single-parent is consistent, supportive and reliable, they too should acquire attitudes of trust, independence, self-awareness and the desire to succeed.  
L.S Vygotsky's concept of cognitive development suggests that the social world defines the way children think. He believed that children learn more when their learning is best supported at opportune times when the caregiver aides them in learning new tasks.
How does this relate to single-parent families?
When children raised in single-parent households are left alone for long periods of time or left in the hands of uninvolved caregivers their academic skills are not being fully supported.  
The Resiliency theory suggests that through the use of inborn coping mechanisms individuals are able to overcome adversities in their lives.
How does this relate to single-parent families?
Through the use of appropriate resources and the application of coping strategies single-parent families can overcome the challenges that they encounter.  
Carl Rogers' self-actualization perspective proposes that the fundamental goal of all individuals is to maximize their potential and be the best they could be.
How does this relate to single-parent families?
It is not the intention or goal of single-parent families to be problematic and dysfunctional. Like other families the desire of the members of single-parent families is to achieve family cohesion, and to support the growth and development of each other.
My name is Michelle Roberts. I have a Master of Science Degree in Human Services and I am currently pursuing a PhD in Human Service Administration. My research focus is on identifying the specific needs and struggles of single parent families. I have worked in the human services field for over 12 years and I am also the Founder and Executive Director of It Takes The Village Respite Care (ITTV) inc.
To find out more about ITTV, please visit http://ittvrespitecare.org
If you would like to comment or provide feedback on this article please e-mail me at mroberts@ittvrespitecare.org.


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Single Parents In College - How To Meet The Double Challenge

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Experts think that two of every ten college students today is a single parent, whether male or female. And the number of single parents in college is on a steady rise. This shouldn't really be surprising since single-parent households have been on a sharp and steady increase for several decades. Whether by chance or choice, single parenting is a popular lifestyle for adults today.
Today, there are more single parents enrolled in college than ever before. Single parents face difficult challenges, and single parents who are also college students have additional stresses and demands to deal with.
The Challenges for Single-Parent College Students
Single parents attending college have many obstacles and difficulties. They have demands on their time greater than the amount of time they spend in class. They must also study to achieve satisfactory academic performance. Pressures to perform in class are added to those they already feel from their home and child-rearing responsibilities.
Society may not recognize the added burden. Being a single parent in college doesn't change social expectations for making parent-teacher conferences, attending PTA meetings, coaching kids' sports teams, and the host of activities expected of parents today.
And people may view single parents in college differently. Even if having children was a conscious choice, people may assume that the single parent was irresponsible in his or her social and sexual behavior. Peers and professors may assume the single parent is promiscuous, creating even more problems for the harried student. So while the stigma against single parents has largely disappeared in modern western cultures, it may not be completely gone for single parents in college.
* Managing Time
Handling crowded schedules and meeting difficult time constraints is hard enough for single parents. There are so many expectations and demands, and the same 24 hours for meeting them. For the single parent attending college, time is a precious commodity.
They must some how deal with the need to study and keep up the grades with the need to take care of their children and give them a happy, healthy environment in which to grow. Class attendance and the children's extra-curricular activities may conflict.
Exams may be scheduled over soccer games. They may have to choose between taking the baby to the pediatrician and going to their own doctor about that bad cold. There are no easy choices for single parents in college.
Time constraints affect more than the kids and family unit. The single-parent college student has little time to care for their own physical and emotional health. Getting regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate rest may be impossible.
Finding the time and a quiet place to study may be one of the most difficult parts of their day. Often, study doesn't begin until after the kids are asleep. That means losing precious hours of their own sleep. Balancing academic life and a single-parent family are a Herculean challenge.
* Managing Money
Single parents already face the challenge of being the main source of income for their family. Attending college adds a significant financial burden to an already strained pocketbook and budget.
As most of us know, college expenses are significant today. The costs of tuition and fees, textbooks, laboratory fees, and transportation and parking eat into limited money for rent, groceries, and child care.
While student loans are available, they add to financial burdens unknown to college students who don't have children. Mounting debt may be a necessary evil for single parents attending college.
Is there any question, then, about why so many single parents drop out of college or get failing grades? Recent studies suggest that some single parents are choosing to put their kids in foster care or out for adoption in order to improve their lives with a college degree.
Those without a supportive extended family or outside resources may be forced to make this heart-breaking decision to give their children the best possible chance at life. The hard fact of the matter is that, without a college degree, the single parent may not be able to give their children a normal life anyway.
No matter how tempted we may be to judge the single parent in college who gives up their children, it is important to recognize and acknowledge their terrible dilemma. And for those that are able to pull it off, society owes a round of thunderous applause.
Abhishek is a family counselor and he has got some great Single Parenting Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 65 Pages Ebook, "Single Parenting - Becoming The Best Parent For Your Child!" from his website http://www.Better-Parent.com/126/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.


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Articles On Single Parenting - How To Find Them

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Articles providing information on Single Parenting are becoming very popular nowadays, and they are available in plenty. If you are a single parent you need not worry of how to tackle the difficult situations you may face with your children.
There are a lot of articles like this and many websites and also magazines. All you have to do is take some time and search. For articles that are more precise and that will provide you with exactly what you want you could look for them in the libraries. By reading these articles and books one can develop a good ideas how to handle a situation and these articles will behave as a guide and help you out to make your parenting life a little easier.
As the number of marriage break ups, death of a partner or even teenage pregnancies have increased these articles have become very popular and are being publicized widely. There have been many demands over the last few years on self-help tips on how to raise a child being a single parent.
These articles mainly focus on single moms and dads who have lost their spouse because of an unfortunate death and have to raise their child all by themselves. These articles would help them to handle grief and to continue their life without a partner.
These articles also contain enough information on how to take proper care of toddlers, infants and kids who are already in school. The articles on single parenting help the parents to understand the attitude of their children towards others. The Single parents, particularly teenage mothers who are single will gain a lot of knowledge from articles like these and they will learn the basics of child care like giving the baby a bath and also first aid techniques.
To reduce the negative effects of single parenting, single parents must talk to their children. Always. Let them express their feeling about the divorce, about the moving, and changing of schools. Let your children know that whatever happens to the marriage, you still love them. Parents, as much as possible, must settle their difference amicably so that their children can adapt easily to the situation and to lessen the tension on their part.
Children need security, a loving, nurturing and healthy environment for better emotional growth and psychological development. Whatever kind of family you have, children will grow up to be fine men or women even if they are a product of single parenting. It's up to the single parent how they will raise their child into a loving and respectful person.
Some children who are being raised in a bad environment or the children who are the product of teenage pregnancies are liable to be very sensitive than children raised in a normal environment, as they seem to be a usual topic at school or with their friends. This puts in a very uncomfortable position. These children must be helped to cope up and these articles will help a parent to do that.
Some articles are very confusing and are of not much help, such articles must be totally disregarded. As these are articles written by humans they are liable to errors and need not be perfect. But most of the authors use their experience as a single parent and write the articles. And sometimes they are not so informative.
Articles like those on single parenting are of great help for parents who are single to guide their child to a better future and to help them become better citizens.
Abhishek is a family counselor and he has got some great Single Parenting Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 65 Pages Ebook, "Single Parenting - Becoming The Best Parent For Your Child!" from his website http://www.Better-Parent.com/126/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.


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The Effects Of Single Parenting On Children

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Times have really changed. Many old customs and traditions which were taught and practiced for several years are becoming obsolete now. The modern culture has changed and outgrown values and beliefs that were thought to be the core.
Even though moralists and conservative people are expressing disgust over the currently evolving belief and culture systems, the truth is, however, what has been unacceptable in the old world is now becoming fast and rapidly rising trends.
Some of the effects of single parenting have ranged from social to financial issues.
For decades and even centuries, one of the most concerning issues to conservative people is the issue of single parenting. Ancient social philosophies have often linked single parenting to adventurism and liberation of people.
The Catholic Church has always been the dominating mentor and guide of traditions, norms and living. The church is so adamant to advocate the sanctity of the sacrament of marriage of matrimony.
That is why the procreation outside wedlock is strictly considered a ground for excommunication. It is one of the greatest sins, according to the Catholic Church, to engage in pre-marital sex.
From the church's point of view, single parenthood can be considered as a punishment of some sorts, for those who disobey the teachings of the church. Obviously the fundamentalists think otherwise. So, is it?
Single parenting is already becoming a rapidly growing trend in the society. Studies show, that in the US alone, there are four single parents to every ten parents and there are two single parents for every 10 adults. Could you believe it?
The Child
Since the decision of single parenting is taken by the parent, one voice is often ignored and sometimes unheard of. It is that of the child's.
It has been found that single parenting has adverse mental, emotional and psychological effect on the child. This has been validated by psychologists and advocates from time to time.
The direct effect of being raised by a single parent is especially visible in child's thinking and mental mind set.
Although single parents must be commended for raising a child alone, he or she should not be blamed for any mental or psychological result of the situation to the child, as psychological assert.
Tests and observations have consistently concluded and found that single parenting makes children more aggressive and rebellious. Experts say the behavior could be the outcome of the angst and humiliation the child experiences while growing.
There are very obvious reasons to make the child feel abnormal, different and unaccepted. The traditional families have two parents, the mom and the dad, jointly raising kids with help and advice from each other. Whereas in single parenting, a single person decides what is best for the child and sometimes takes extreme measures to get it accomplished.
Neighborhood also plays an important role in the development of single parent raised children. Sometimes it treats them too cruelly, which can make things worse. Humiliation and awkward feeling of insecurity is dangerous if left untreated or undetected in the child. That child can take the burden for the rest of his or her life.
In some conditions, single parents and their children both may need professional help through counseling. Counselors can give reasonable advice to the child and the single parent to make sure every small issue and difficulty is ironed out.
Counseling from professionals can form or make up a support system that will make single parenting easier and more effective. Because single parenting is no ordinary parenting, the parent and the child must learn to accept the situation minus the negative feeling.
It's a difficult situation for any child to be raised with one parent, but surprisingly, not an impossible one anymore. Society has accepted the facts and has stopped looking at single parenting as an abnormal occurrence. There is a positive trend which is especially useful in reducing, if not nullifying, the adverse effects on single parents and their children.
Get a free single parenting book that will help reveal and provide solutions to some of the problems faced by a single parent. Get this book now by going to: about single parenting. Also to read more articles and get further resources on single parenting visit good single parenting articles [http://www.singleparentcenter.net/singleparentingarticles.html].



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