The Effects of Full-Time Working Parents on Teens

The_Effects_of_Full-Time_Working_Parents_on_Teens

Times have changed. Where just a generation or two ago it was perfectly feasible for one parent to work while the other stayed at home with the children, now both parents need at least one job apiece, if not more. Despite the necessity, it’s normal for parents to wonder if all this time away is having (or will have) any adverse effect on their children.

The Research

When researching this article, I found a number of others that referred back to the same study. One article wrote about how the children of working mothers suffered, while those of stay-at-home moms had greater cognitive abilities. Another article wrote about just the opposite, stating that no, research has found no difference between the children of working mothers or otherwise.

The truth, unsurprisingly, lies somewhere in the middle.

There’s something to be said for the actual parent of the child spending as much time with the child as possible. This much should be obvious. When this isn’t an option, however, the research tells a very specific story.

The NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development released a study on the very topic of children and their development in child care.

The findings?

When it came to children kept in child care due to working parents, both the quantity of time and the quality of childcare play significant roles.

  • Of those that spent more time in the care of someone not the child’s parent, the child displayed some behavioral problems.
  • The children who had better quality child care developed better language and cognitive skills.
  • Children who were put into child care centers developed better cognitive and language skill, but this came with some behavioral problems.

What does this tell us?

Quality care is important, but also is keeping it limited. When the child is receiving the individual attention of a caregiver, they’re more stable emotionally.

Also in the report, children whose mothers spend the first year with them before working have fewer emotional issues.

What Can Be Done

Parents have to work. It’s a fact of life. All we want is for the best for our children, and to give them all the things we didn’t have. Unfortunately, despite the necessity, this can have a toll on both the child and the parents. As the child goes through adolescence, it can become particularly difficult to communicate.

If we sit and listen, we can help them understand that even though we work, we’re here for them.

Request Free Admissions Information

Step 1 of 3 - Your Contact Info

Written by Natalie

19 Apr, 2016

Recent Posts

Finding the Right Boys Home For Your Teen Son

Finding the Right Boys Home For Your Teen Son

Finding the right solution for your teen son who may be in crisis is essential to ensure his future is steady, stable, and on the right track. Teen boys struggling with mental health or behavioral issues often need therapeutic intervention. The right boy's home can...

Improve Teen Grades in 6 Easy Ways

Improve Teen Grades in 6 Easy Ways

Parents usually think teens are just being lazy when they have bad grades. And for some kids, that could be true. But many teens aren't lazy; they just need to learn how to study or organize properly to be successful in school. Others teens have ADHD and other mental...

Defiant Teenager Help and Resources

Defiant Teenager Help and Resources

When your little one was born, there are good odds you were warned about the terrible twos and threes being the most problematic years to deal with. In truth, the pre-teen and teen years can bring with them the most challenges for parents. Your teen may be slipping at...

How CBT is Improving Teen Therapy

How CBT is Improving Teen Therapy

A practical therapeutic approach, cognitive behavioral therapy, examines how the environment and preconceptions influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to teach people how to identify irrational thought processes that...

What Happens When You Kick Out Your Teenager

What Happens When You Kick Out Your Teenager

As much as you love your teenager, there may come a day when you look at your options for having them leave your home to protect yourself and the other family members better. You may have tried just about everything you can think of to try and get your troubled teen...

Winter Activities to do with your Teen

Winter Activities to do with your Teen

Winter can be a challenging time to find fun and engaging activities to do with your teen. Sure, it’s easy to leave them with an iPad and a movie, but unless you want them mindlessly scrolling all day, there needs to be a bit more structure to your cold-weather...

You May Also Like…

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *