The emotional reaction which a person has on hearing the phrase “single parent family” might very well depend on his or her age.

For Americans who came of age before 1975, the mental picture of an ideal family, as portrayed by the media, included two parents, one of whom, usually the father, was the breadwinner. Those children who came from homes with only one parent present were considered, by researchers, to be experiencing a “Family Deficit Model.” Hardly an attitude designed to help single parents and their children feel good about themselves.

Even worse, researchers did not look past the lack of a father or mother to other factors common in single-parent households when deciding that life in one of them automatically doomed children to second-rate academic and social performance. But with over three-fifths of all US children born in the last twenty-five years now spending at least five years in a single parent household, understanding single parenting positive and negative effects on academics is crucial.

Research into the single parenting positive and negative effects on academics is ongoing, but studies completed in 1991 and 1997 indicated that there was a 300% higher high school drop out rate among children from single family homes than among those in ”nuclear” families. This was in spite of the fact that the academic abilities of the dropouts in either group were equal.

One explanation for this statistic is that single parents, often their family’s sole sources of income, cannot always spend time overseeing their children’s study habits, or being present at extracurricular activities. But an even bigger factor, and probably the single most important one, in single parenting positive and negative effects on academics is the typically lower income level of single parent homes.

Among households of similar size and equal income, regardless of the number of parents present, there is little statistical difference in the children’s academic performance. While this finding sheds real doubt on the assumption that a two parent household is “better” for a child, it is really not surprising.

In a single parent household with an adequate income, the parent will have more free time to devote to the children’s studies and school activities. Children who have that sort of support, even if from “only” one parent, are much better equipped to deal with the intellectual and social demands of school than children in either single or two parent households who do not have it.

It’s also been shown that children in single parent homes who receive regular child support from the absent parent will perform better academically than those who do not. This factor has nothing to do with the single parenting abilities of the parent with whom the child lives, but is another indication that the biggest factor in single parenting positive and negative effects on academics is not a matter of parenting style, but of income.

And in certain circumstances, a single parenting positive effect on academics may actually stem from having a mother who must work full time to support the family. The mother’s income, of course, is an obvious benefit, but a 1986 study headed by Ann Milne indicated that African American elementary school children in low-income single parent homes with working mothers outperformed those in low-income two-parent homes with stay-at-home mothers. When low incomes are involved, it appears that children with mothers who struggle to support them are inspired to overcome their disadvantages.

If the continuing research into single parenting positive and negative effects on academics bears these earlier findings out, we may learn that the secret to raising a successful, well-adjusted student is nothing more than money.

In the past, single parents were looked upon with pity and shame. Before divorce was so common, it was viewed as highly unfortunate, and single parenting was regarded as sad. Though divorce is never a happy occasion, the circumstances surrounding single parenting today are much more varied and much less grim. Many single mothers and fathers are raising children alone by choice and happy to be doing it.

Single Parenting in the Black Community

The African American community is one that has been dealing with single-parent households for many generations. In the past, single mothers raising black children have had to do so for numerous reasons, even outside of divorce. The statistics involving black males and early death (by violent crime or otherwise) was one factor. Incarceration rates among black males of child-rearing age were also responsible for the fact that most black single parents were women in the past.

The landscape of single parenting in the African-American community, as in other races has changed considerably over the last couple of decades. Single fathers are increasingly taking on the responsibility for raising children. Also, single mothers and single fathers are sharing responsibility of all aspects of child rearing.

Also, the circumstances surrounding single parenting have changed considerably, broadening the range of reasons it happens in the first place. More and more people are having children out of wedlock, simply for the objective of having children. Though these choices are still considered to be unconventional, they are more widely accepted today than they ever were before.

Issues and Concerns

For mothers raising black children alone, there are several factors that must be taken into consideration. One of the factors is finances. If a single mother is also the single financial provider, she is often working full time, and may even work more than one job. In this case, adequate childcare must be arranged. For school-aged children, the cost of before and after school care can be easier for single parents to afford. If the child or children are too young for school, then the single parent must be able to afford full-time child care or at least be able to rely on the help of a grandparent or other relative that can help care for the children while the parent is out earning a living for the family.

Another consideration of black single parents is access to suitable male role models. Single mothers raising black children have traditionally struggled with this, as there isn’t always a black male in the family that children can look to as a role model. Fortunately, there are more and more African-American “heroes” either in leadership positions, in the media, or in the community. Big brother and big sister programs offer access to role model material that black children can relate to and spend time with. Many of the organizations that provide matching services for children and “role models” promote healthy, long-term relationships that make all the difference in the lives of children being raised by black single parents.

Single mothers face a lot of problems while bringing up children in USA. Financial problems being the most important as ex-husband may not pay the court order money for child support. These mothers may not be able to do a full time job as a result they may not be able to pay for day care and may not meet the criteria for head start. Many are thus dependent on AFDC (aid to families with dependent children) or WIC (Women Infants and children). This dependence on welfare organization once established is difficult to break.

There are many reasons for the financial worries of single mothers. Although most ex-spouses fulfill their court ordered financial obligations regarding their children; a few of them do not comply with this court ordered support. The latter case not only results in extra psychological and physical burden on the single mother, it makes it difficult for her to fulfill the requirements of the child in regards to food and clothing. A lot of people may consider court ordered support as luxury; but on the contrary it is just enough to meet the requirements.

The children constantly grow so they require a regular supply of clothing and food. Education is not entirely free even in state schools. Similarly preschool children require child care, whereas day care is difficult to afford. More over the WIC or AFDC will not support the mother till the issue of court order is resolved. This means going back to the court again and making your ex-husband to pay either by wage garnishment or by any other legal way. It is not an easy task to find an ex- husband so the lone mother can do nothing than to rely on herself alone. This places the mother as well as the child in a danger of becoming homeless. These are the risks of single parenting.

It is difficult to afford daycare as they usually require up to $400 per month. Most lone mothers have to take a job. However with the daycare being so costly it may not be possible for the mother to work as well as look after her preschool children. The head start and the early start are good supportive programs but most of these mothers do not fall in the specified low income groups especially when receiving court support.

So they may not get any support from head start and have to bare all the expenses of daycare all by themselves. She might not get some help from the child’s preschool also. Actually she belongs to the working community among poor. These and such are the problems faced by a single mum in America.

Short comings in the welfare system also effect these single mothers. These mothers are considered the same as any other poor social group by many federal and state programs which run WIC and AFDC. On the other hand these women are more likely to suffer from many psychiatric illnesses which then become a major hurdle in getting job or other financial assistance. As a result of which it becomes difficult for them to gain financial independence and they become permanently dependent on welfare.

As a whole the single mothers living in USA face problems which are quite different from others. It is essential that more funds should be allocated for them