Single Parenting and the Effects of

Socialization on Children
CHDV 106
Margaret Weber
Single Parent Mother and Father
Households
In todays society more children than ever are living in single parent
households. While those households are still traditionally single mother,
there are becoming more single father households in the United States.
According to our textbook, there are 26% of the children in the United
States that live in single parent households (Berns, 2013, pg. 85)
The reason for choosing the topic of single parenting is to examine the
socialization processes and how they differ in single parent mother
households and single parent father households.
Do single fathers really have more advantages over single mothers?
Relevance to children 0-8, possible disadvantages such as:
Access to quality child-care
Access to medical and dental care
Lack of familiar daily routines such as mealtimes and bedtimes
Lack of positive role model whether it is male or female depending on which
parent is not in the household.
Positive Influences and Effects of Single Parent
Homes Concerning Quality Child Care
In 1990 a federal child-care bill was passed. This allows families to chose
whatever child-care facility they want. Empowers parents by allowing
them to make better choices for their childs care.
Children in quality care are receiving healthy meals and snacks.
Children in turn get a better start to their education, engaging with peers
and learning to follow the rules of play and society.
Parents are able to concentrate on their job knowing that their child is in
a safe and nurturing environment.
According to our textbook, children who have been in child-care seem to
be more confident, less-fearful, more outgoing and also more self-
confident (Berns, 2013. Pg.165).

Negative Effects for Children in Single Parent
Families not in Quality Child-Care
Children in single parent homes tend to spend more time in child-
care during the week as opposed to children in two parent
families.
Children who have not bonding well with the parent in the home
may have difficulty if they are not able to form an attachment to
their care-giver in child-care.
May exhibit aggressive behaviors with peers. Take toys away from
other children, push children, may be biters.
Children may throw temper tantrums to seek behavior from adults.
The main risk is that children may learn to use anti-social behavior
in order to get any attention from an adult. Any attention is better
than no attention.
Agency Supporting Quality Care
Early Head Start & Head Start
Program is federally funded
Provides quality care for children whose parents meet the
income requirements.
Serves children who are 0-5 years old. Children who have
disabilities and special needs and who may be homeless
Provides vision and hearing screenings



Positive Effects on Single Parent Families
Concerning Medical and Dental Care for
Children
Single Parents who have medical insurance whether it is private
insurance or insurance provided by the county or state through low to no
cost programs are able to provide their children with medical and dental
check-ups, and immunizations.
Children will have healthier teeth which also plays into healthy habits
going into adulthood.
If children see their parent taking care of their health, they are getting
the positive role model and learn by doing socialization.
Medical issues are caught and taken care of sooner, therefore chances are
health care costs will be within reason.
Negative Effects on Children without
Medical and Dental Care
Children are not getting proper well baby check-ups, immunizations and immediate attention
to communicable diseases. This puts other children in the community at risk for exposure to
possible contagious illnesses.
Families may pass colds and flu and other communicable diseases back and forth in the
family.
Children may miss more days of school due to illness, putting them at risk for falling behind
their grade level and interfering with their relationships with their peers.
Lack of energy may contribute to obesity because children are not able to play, run, jump and
be active.
Infants who lack proper dental care and parents who allow their baby to sleep with a bottle
are at risk for baby bottle tooth decay. This can mess up permanent adult teeth. Children are
also at risk for being teased about their bad teeth in school and the community.
Mass media markets high sugar and fast food that children really like and want. Parents may
give in to childrens demands for these less healthy options there again contributing to
childhood obesity and the rising cost of medical care in the community
Agency Supporting Single Low
Income Families with Medical and
Dental Insurance
San Bernardino County Department of Public Health
and Human Services.
Provides families with no cost or low cost medical and
dental insurance through Medi-Cal.
Also provide help with food costs with the food stamp
program.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
provides temporary cash assistance to families in need.
This is designed to empower the parent to find a job,
go through training or whatever is needed to become
more self-sufficient.
Positive Effects on Children in Single
Parent Homes that have Familiar Routines
Children that have familiar routines adapt easier to child-care and school
settings.
Children are getting more quality time with parents as well as parents
teaching their children positive social skills.
Children like to know what is coming next, and with familiar routines the
battle of wills between parent and child become less frequent.
Children who eat regularly scheduled mealtimes with families tend to eat
more healthier foods and are less likely to be obese as children.
Children are less likely to react negatively or have the dreaded tantrum
in the grocery store when they are told they cannot have something they
want. These children show more socially acceptable behavior in general.
Negative Effects on Children in Single
Family Homes that do not have Familiar
Routines
Children who do not have familiar routines tend to misbehave as a way
to get their busy parents attention. They learn that any attention even
negative attention is better than no attention at all.
Children with no consistency in bedtimes may throw temper tantrums
disrupting the family life. They may also be very tired and grumpy the
next day in child-care or school which negatively impacts their
relationships with peers and teachers.
Children who do not have consistent routine mealtimes often eat dinner
while watching television and usually are eating less healthy foods. This
leads to possible aggression with others if children are watching non age
appropriate television. It also contributes to the social rise in childhood
obesity and the rise of medical costs.
Children may not have self-regulatory skills as well.
Agency Supporting Single
Parents
WIC (Women, Infants & Children)
Encourages mothers to breastfeed infants.
Children birth through age five receive formula, baby food, milk,
eggs, cheese, peanut butter and more.
Single fathers may enroll their children in WIC as well.
Moses House
Website: http://moseshouse.org/services-education
Offers free parenting classes for both single mothers and single
fathers.
Organization is mostly for single mothers from as young as 12 and
up.
Positive Effects on Children having a Male or
Female Role Model in Single Mother or Father
Homes
Children have a positive healthy attitude toward the gender of the
missing parent of the household.
Mothers dont generally talk bad about the childs father and
fathers generally dont talk bad about the mothers helping the
children keep a socially acceptable attitude to males and females.
Children do not socially ostracize or degrade the opposite gender
in community settings, in child-care or school.
There is generally no resentment of the opposite sex as children
are entering adolescence making way for positive dating
experiences and the wish to date the opposite sex.

Negative Effects on Children without
Positive Male and Female Role Models
Children may pick on or bully the opposite sex in school or child-care.
They may talk very negatively about the opposite sex because they have
heard their mother or father talk bad about the opposite sex.
Parents may be influencing and encouraging socially unacceptable
behaviors by speaking or acting aggressively towards the opposite sex.
Children may become confused when their mother talks bad about men
or fathers talk bad about females, then they begin dating and remarry.
Parents are modeling socially unacceptable behavior to their children.
Children may also behave poorly and act out during visitation with their
fathers or mothers creating tension in the house.
Boys who are told that their fathers are bad and worthless, begin to
think that they are worthless and bad especially if the mother tells her
son that he looks and acts likes his father. The same is true for daughters
and mothers.
Agencies that can help foster positive
male and female role models
Boy Scouts of America
Prepare young boys to make ethical and moral choices by
instilling values through the Scout Oath and Law.
Provides positive role models as mentors to the boys from the
community
Girl Scouts of America
Prepare young girls to make ethical and moral choices by
instilling values through the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Big Brothers and Sisters
Matches boys and girls with a non relative male or female
mentor.