Changes in American Families

1.1 Describe changes that have occurred in the American family over the last 50 years.

• "Traditional" families aren't so common anymore. Less families are headed by married couples, most women with children now work, the divorce rate has quadrupled in the last 40 years, less children live with both parents (single mother, father, or neither), and poverty among single-parent families is drastically higher than households with married couples. Many of these circumstances lead to busier adult schedules, leaving children with less time to spend with their parent(s)/caregiver(s).

1.2 What implications do the changes in American families have for child care in this country?

• Quality child care is more important than ever. Child care can have a lasting impact on children, often well into adulthood. Good care is positively correlated with long-term cognitive and emotional development, higher earnings, and greater relationship stability. Poor care is correlated with the opposite effects. Quality care is especially important for children of poverty, but participation rates of these children have declined in recent years.

1.3 Who are latchkey children? What problems do they encounter in their homes?

• Latchkey children are children who come home to an empty home because their parent(s)/caregiver(s) are at work (or maybe school). They don't receive as much time spent with their caregivers and lack the structure and support of children whose caregivers are consistently home with them. Problems include safety concerns, supervision, excessive TV watching, lack of homework help, and perhaps poor nutrition. Students may not complete their homework if they're unsure what to do and don't have an adult present to ask questions.