what are some characteristics of children from single parent families?

Answer 1

Well I'm from a single parent family, and I would say more responsible and more independent. With one parent you actually have to do chores and help your parent out.

& to the first answerer, im from a single parent family and I make straight A's and B's, im going to college, and ive never been arested. Your statement was ignorant.

Answer 2

It really depends on a number of factors besides the fact that you're froma single parent family. Where do you live? What's the parent that you have like? Is the other parent deceased, out of your life, somewhat involved etc? How old was the child when this happened? What's the family income?

I came from a single parent home. My parents divorced when I was about 9yrs old and my dad was somewhat involved in our lives. I was rather upset for a little while, thought I was the only kid in school going through it, hated talking about it etc but within a few months, I was back to my old self. My mom was fantastic, very supportive, loving and firm. I was very independent growing up and I think that's a very common characteristic. I never got in trouble as a kid and had a lot of self respect. I went to college, have a degree in both early childhood ed and child development, have a healthy marriage and 4 children. My siblings followed very similar tracks.
As a teacher, I have several students each year who come from single parent homes. I've taught 1st grade for the last 3yrs and have had a total of 11 students who have come from single family homes. Out of these 11, 8 of them had been in this situation for less than a year. Out of those 8, 3 of them were somewhat upset in school, but by the middle of the year were doing fine.
Before you go on and read statistics, find out who they interviewed and what the answers are to the above questions.
Best Wishes =]

Answer 3

Post #1- Never believe statistics, they only say what the person doing the "research" wants them to say.

It depends on how good of a parent their one parent is. I think in single parent families there is more of a chance for children to go down the wrong road in life because the parent that do have is most likely working a lot. But you really cant generalize, there are people who have had both their parents their entire life and they are the scum of the earth. There really are no characteristics, everyones experience is different.

Answer 4

I was raised by a single mom. Some people think she put too much stress on me, and sometimes she did. But, I learned that materalist things arent everything. I learned that just because I want something doesnt mean I need it. I learned the value of saving for things I wanted.

I was more mature and responsible than most people my age. For me it was a good thing. I am much more independant and self reliable as an adult.

There are many things that my mom did with me that I dont agree with. But in this respect she was very strong. We were never on welfare or foodstamps. I know our family helped a lot, but she always did everything she could before asking. She did what she needed to get a good job.

I had my uncle and papaw as father figures growing up, so I dont think I was lacking in that dept.

I am 24 now, and much more self reliant and independant than my older cousin who was raised in a two parent home with money.

I pay my own bills have my own car and have my own house. I learned that even though I may be afraid of failing, I have to get up and try.

Answer 5

Well my daughter is alot more mature and independent than other kids her age-she always has been. Also, she was ahead in school from the get go.She also as the person above mentioned very close with her aunts and uncles.

But i don't think it is because you have one or two parents-it's the quality of love and time you give your child.
I know people that are married and their kids are always with their grandparents. Just because I am a single mom doesn't mean I am not there for my child! I am always with her-She goes home with a friend after school, I am home by 5 so I doubt those two hours a day are making her want to go out and ger arrested. I don't leave her by herself. Also, she is a straight A student involved in soccer,art classes,dance, etc.-not hanging on a corner
These people on here are ignorant.

Answer 6

I don't know if one can classify people in any valid way using this a a criteria. Assuming that we are considering how someone would be if he had a loving mother or a loving father only compared to how he would be if he had both a loving mother and a loving father there is only one conclusion to be drawn.

He is what he is because he had both loving parents.
or
He is what he is despite having only one parent.

I defy anyone to prove that having only one loving parent is superior to having two loving parents. It cannot be proven because it is not true. No matter how beautifully a person develops with only a single parent they would have had an easier time achieving that level or surpassing it if they had two.

I know this is not what a lot of single parents want to hear but that is the reality.

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Answer 7

I can respond to both sides of the fence on this. I was divorced when my youngest (out of 4) was in high school. So I do know the benefits of raising children with both parents and the characteristics of single parent families.

1. Children raised in single parent homes are generally less secure in themselves. Girls will act out sexually at a younger age, boys often act out more aggressively. The parents have to be watchful for this and take appropriate action. For me, it was making sure my youngest was involved in her basketball, theatre activities, and having a good counselor she could talk to about the time of the divorce.

2. Children in single parent homes typically "grow up" faster than those raised with both parents. They often attempt to take on parental roles for younger siblings or feel they must be the single parent's friend or confidant...often taken on roles for housekeeping and such.

3. Because they often have less time with parents, they do find ways of becoming more independent at an early age. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. My youngest daughter was highly independent and creative when it came to financing her college education and won a full scholarship to high school. But she also was more independent in ways that bothered me a lot!! Like taking off in the car at 16 when she knew it was not a good idea (coming home after curfew, even though she didn't have practice at school).

4. Children in single parent families often learn to have closer relationships with extended family members. Mine did...they learned that if mom can't help as much as perhaps is needed (say if I just didn't have the money or was away at work), there was an older sibling around or a grandparent or an aunt or uncle. So they learned how to find help in creative ways and I encouraged that because our family is pretty cool though.

It's really not a bad/good thing...it's something that just is. It's up to the full-time custodial parent to have a good attitude to raise kids that will be responsible. Sometimes we cannot control what happens to our lives such as divorce or death of a spouse or parent...

Answer 8

It varies from one child to the next~ it's tough to give characteristics of a child coming from a single parent family. Children are simply too different to make such a generalization.

Answer 9

I am from two parent family.
My best friend is from a single parent family.

The only difference in our personality is that she is more outgoing, more self confident.

Other than that, neither of us do drugs. Neither of us drink. Neither of us sleep around.

It isn't being a single parent family that effects that child. It is that USUALLY, the family is single parent because the parent is a druggy, or sleeps around, or is an alcoholic. That's what effects that kid.

If the parent with the child is a good parent and good example, the child is NOT effected.

Answer 10

A need for a father or mother figure depending on if the single parent is the father or mother. Sometimes this need is met by a relative as well.

This is really the only thing I've noticed consistently.