Diverse Family Structures (Essay Sample)

DIVERSE FAMILY STRUCTURES
Diverse Family Structures
Introduction
There have been several theories explaining the poor state of children in America—child poverty, social class, and race. One of the explanations points to the role of parents in a child’s development. More particularly, some studies demonstrate that children are smarter and better behaved when they grow in the presence of their fathers. Many other studies conclude that fathers influence the development of their children positively through active parenting. However, the determination is that the farther must be a loving and nurturing person in order to influence his children, family, and community positively. Some of the most recent studies also reveal that fathers who are present as their children develop tend to be more close to and maintain enduring relationships with their offspring. Besides doing well in school, children who have grown with their fathers show empathy and pro-social demeanor, have healthy self-confidence, and avoid risky tendencies, such as drug abuse, absenteeism, and criminal activity. With all these findings, the theme continues to draw interest because there is not much research into what can be done to improve performance and life of the children who do not or cannot have the presence of their father as they grow.
Discussion
In his article, Baxter (2012) establishes how fathers that have children who live outside of the household may not receive as much time or interaction as with a father who is in another household with other children. Although this study happened in Australia, it related to the daily happening in the United States, particularly in Florida. The article states that when fathers have children that are living elsewhere they spend less time doing childcare task, and that they are less involved. Independently, Gennetian’s (2005) study slightly distances itself from many other studies by establishing that rationally, family structure merely influences achievement test scores of young children. The study provides a comparison making out whether children are more successful or achieve more if they are in the household with both of their parents versus being raised by a single parent or in a household with a stepparent. However, in their research, Magnuson and Berger 2009 established that “residing in a single-mother family was associated with small increases in behavior problems and decreases in achievement, and that residing in a social-father family was associated with small increases in behavior problems” (pg. 575).
Analysis
Most of the information above does not come surprisingly mainly due to the writer relating with the issue. However, when relating most of the findings with personal experience, it is obvious this topic needs further probing into how family structure influences children, and whether the presence of either parent affect child development differently. Children must have a structure with anything they do in life. However, based on three articles discussed above, the structure must not focus on either parent as long as the child has love, proper care and a solid foundation. Depending on the understanding and dedication of the present parent, children cannot only attend school, but also perform well; they can as well live happily and become eager to learn. Although children perform better with their fathers present in their homes, mothers can play a role in bridging the gap by loving and nurturing their children actively.
Explanation
In the real world and in my classroom I am sure I will meet children who may not know their fathers, or who barely get to see their father for many different reasons. Although is topic is sensitive to children, the discussion must continue if children with absentee fathers have to be encouraged to perform as well as those from homes with both parents present. Although family structure is influential, children generally perform well if they experience love, the proper care, and a solid foundation—contrary outcomes are true with children lacking the three, even with both their parents present in their growth and development. Regardless on the efforts, a father’s absence in a family is often very consequential. Teenage girls may become pregnant in a relationship in which they trust a man and assign him the role of their father. To other children, lacking the presence of a father in a family distracts so much since they are constantly seeking to quench their thirst for a male player in their lives as a father, mostly because of what they see in their peers’ father-preset homes.
Impact the Information on Career
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