"Running head: SINGLE PARENT CHILDREN1 Children Raised by Single Parent HomesSurname/NameInstructor’s NameDate of Submission CHILDREN FROM SINGLE HOMES2 Children Raised by Single Parent Homes Abstract This research paper will investigate single family homes and try to find out both positiveand negative features of these families. This research will mainly focus on features of singlefamily in relation to finance, race, age and geographical regions whether they affect or influencefailure or the success of single family homes. Furthermore we will investigate whether male orfemale matters in terms who head Single family homes. For example if we look at how financecontributes to success of single family home, the research has established that single mothers orfathers are able to bring up their children by providing good environment because they will usemoney to educate and provide some psychological counseling on how to grow up despite whatthey are going through. (Rampell, Catherine 2010) Single parent home should be a lone father or a lone-mother. Single parenthood comesabout in various ways; some decided to be single parents, especially those women who have nomind married, but want to have kids, some came about due to the death of one parent or divorce,and others are teen-mothers. Children in this single parent homes are affected greatly, as opposedto those living in a two-parent home, there are both positive and negative features of the singleparent families. We examine the implications of single family homes based on single fatherhomes or single mother homes and what influences them. (Cernkovich, 2004)IntroductionSingle parents homes can dividend into three main types, which includes single parentsdue to the death of one of the parents, single parents due decision making and single parent duechoice of one parent who decide not to be married . Children from single families face many CHILDREN FROM SINGLE HOMES3 physic and mental challenges. Those challenges depends on number of factors such as financial,age, race and other factors which affect single families either positively or negatively. We aregoing to discuss the above features and see how they affect these families. Through the researchwe have found that most single parent homes are headed by female due to number of factorssuch as death of male due HIV/AIDS which kills husband at high rate compared with fameless.We will introduce all factors which influence the success of single family homes and discussthem in details. (Neckrman, Kathryn M. 2004)Literature Review Living in a single parent home is not an easy task, but it also has some benefits,especially, if prior to the single parent home there was a conflict between the two parents that ledto divorce. A change from the two-parent home to single parent home will reduce the tension andhostility that was brought about by the conflicts and the fights between the two parents, this willlead to an increase in solidarity and family consistency when the tension has been reduced.The conflicts may take a toll on the kids, as the parents may ignore the kid’s emotional needs,and the children may feel unnoticed, the parents may also fail to secure rules and regulations athome that will help guide the children. When that tension is gone, the single parent can nowenforce the rules and concentrate more on the children’s needs. (Benokraitis, Nijole v. 2012) Secondly, there is a lot of flexibility when it comes to the single parent homes in planningtime. When two parents are involved, one parent will be distracted by the expectations and timedemands of the other, hence, there is inflexibility, but when one is a single parent, there is greaterflexibility to spend time with each of his/her children.In a single parent home set up, the youngpeople feel more needed and valued, since here the single parent cannot tackle the majorresponsibilities by him/herself, hence will need help from their child. This makes the children CHILDREN FROM SINGLE HOMES4 have a greater sense of personal responsibility and self-esteem. In this type of household, thegirls and boys do not view roles in terms of gender on which gender is supposed to do what, andhence, you find boys doing house chores that are perceived to be for women and vice verseNancy, D. cites that single fathers have to synchronize work and home-making, and this brings awhole definition of fatherhood. The single fathers are able to really understand their young onesand get more engaged in their lives, as opposed to most fathers in a two-parent family structure.The interdependency could be developed in a single parent home. A single parent will requirecooperation with his children, in order for the household to work better. Also they would initiatea working together approach to the problem solving, and all these could lead to interdependencyin a single family set up. (Cherlin, Andrew 2010)Single family homes can also have a negative impact on the children that are raised inthem. First and foremost, the financial status of the family may decline, if a previously marriedwill affect the children’s basic needs, as most of them depend on the financial curve. Financialproblems can cause a lot of strain in the family for both the parent and the child, because the kidsmay not get what they want and even access better education systems. Some single parentsalienate themselves from others in the society, and they take the children with them in theiralienation, and this may affect the children greatly, while they are growing up. This may lead to alow self-esteem and poor social skills. Both the children and the single parent may lose theirpsychological strength, since the single parent has put up with a lot of pressures of being a singleparent and not spending as much time as they wanted to with their kids, besides, children mayfeel left out and start acting out. (Rampell, Catherine 2010) It matters whether it is a male or female-headed household. This is because statisticsshow that most single women get low paying jobs, hence, they face all the problems that low-CHILDREN FROM SINGLE HOMES5 income families face on top of the raising children by themselves, and hence, have to worklonger hours. This means less time spent with their children, but on a positive note, singlemothers are nurturing, as opposed to their male counterparts; they tell their kids that they lovethem and they hug their kids, hence, they have a more extensive support system. Women aremostly closer to friends and extended families who can help them in raising their children, andalso when going through a difficult time. Single-fathers, on the other hand, usually have a well- paid job, hence, finances are not a problem, but they have a problem, when it comes tocommunicating with their children, as opposed to the single mothers, and this leads to the lone- father families having children who have taken drugs, alcohol or were engaged in early sex.(Wolf, Jennifer 2011) Factors, such as; finances, races, age, geography and extended family support influencethe success of the single family home in a number of ways, and it is upon the members of thesingle parent households to determine the success or failure of their family. Finances affect thesuccess of the single family homes in that where there is a high income, and finance is the leastof the single parent’s worries, the single-parent home can survive, as more emphasis is put ontheir quality education, and the parent can spend more quality time with his/her children.(Neckrman, Kathryn M.2004) Race also has some effect, as statistics show that more blacks than whites have single- parent family units. Age is also another factor; in that a young single parent may have troubleraising a kid by himself/herself, as they have a lot of challenges, in terms of finances, and evengetting a job because of their age. They may also have limited education, as they didn’t get tofinish school, and this could bring a great problem on the proper way to raise a kid, and thechildren brought up by a young single parent may have trouble respecting other people and poor CHILDREN FROM SINGLE HOMES6 personal responsibility, due to their inexperienced upbringing. (Wolf, Jennifer 2011) Extended family support also influences a great deal on the success of single parenthomes. A good extended family support will help raise the children of a single parent, and thiswill make the children well nurtured and taken care of, this leads to children with a good moraland societal sense. A good extended family support also eases the pressures put upon the singleparent, and this makes the single parent be more focused on parenting and taking care of his/herchildren, hence, a successful single family home. (Rampell, Catherine 2010)Conclusion Even though family with two parents has been discovered to provide good growingenvironment for kids to grow up, if only both parents are not abusive to their children; bothphysical and mental violation activities to children from single parents home may have stablegrowing environment, if the single parent is financially stable and can take care of all issuesaffecting his or her child. All in all, the success of a single family household depends entirely onthe determination, and will of the parent and children involved, and a positive environmentwithout negative criticism, and stereotyping of single parenthood. Finally single family facesseveral challenges in terms of providing stable growth environment for the children. Any parentshould make sure that when faced with the above discussed challenges he/she should criticallyevaluated each problem and make decisions which may not undermine the welfare of children.(Benokraitis, Nijole v. 2012)References CHILDREN FROM SINGLE HOMES7 Dowd, Nancy E, (1997). In Defense of Single-Parent Family: New York University Press, NewYork.Rampell, Catherine (2010). Single Parent Around the World: New York Times, New York.Wolf, Jennifer (2011).Becoming a Single Mother By Choice: Hill Publisher, London.Neckrman, Kathryn M. (2004). Social Inequality CalhillPublisher, New York.Reed, Diana and Edward (1994). Children of Incarcerated Parents: Global Publisher, London http://www.sarasota.usf.edu/academics/cas/capstone/2010-2011Cernkovich, S.A andGiordani, P.C. (1987). Family Relationships and Delinquency Criminology,Benokraitis, Nijole V. (2012). Marriages & Families Changes, Choices, and Constraints. UpperSaddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Cherlin, Andrew (2010). Public and Private Families. New York, NY: McGraw Hill "