Intact FamiliesIntact Families For many years, family structure was For many years, family structure was

very consistent in Canada – the very consistent in Canada – the ‘intact’ family (meaning mom, dad ‘intact’ family (meaning mom, dad and children) was the normand children) was the norm

Over 90% of children were born into Over 90% of children were born into a 2-parent familya 2-parent family

Now, the percentage of children Now, the percentage of children living in 1-parent (or lone-parent living in 1-parent (or lone-parent families) has increasedfamilies) has increased

According to Statistics Canada, there According to Statistics Canada, there were 1,132,290 female lone‐parent were 1,132,290 female lone‐parent families in Canada in 2006, representing families in Canada in 2006, representing 80% of all lone‐parent families, and 12.7% 80% of all lone‐parent families, and 12.7% of Canada’s 8.9 million families. Both the of Canada’s 8.9 million families. Both the number and proportion of female lone‐number and proportion of female lone‐parent families is considerably higher parent families is considerably higher compared to the count taken 25 ago in the compared to the count taken 25 ago in the 1981 Census. In that year, lone‐mother 1981 Census. In that year, lone‐mother families numbered 589,435. They families numbered 589,435. They accounted for 83% of all lone‐parent accounted for 83% of all lone‐parent families and 9.3% of all familiesfamilies and 9.3% of all families..

Gender plays a more important role in Gender plays a more important role in parental involvement than living parental involvement than living arrangementarrangement

Fathers tend to be less involved with their Fathers tend to be less involved with their children, whether they were living with children, whether they were living with their children or nottheir children or not

However, there is some debate because However, there is some debate because there seems to be some inaccuracy about there seems to be some inaccuracy about proper ‘reporting’ of father’s involvements proper ‘reporting’ of father’s involvements in the case of divorced couplesin the case of divorced couples

There is more of a trend now to see that more There is more of a trend now to see that more fathers of children born to single mothers are fathers of children born to single mothers are acknowledging their paternity by allowing acknowledging their paternity by allowing their names to be put on the child's birth their names to be put on the child's birth certificatecertificate

Fathers who are doing this are usually living Fathers who are doing this are usually living with the mothers at the time of the baby’s birthwith the mothers at the time of the baby’s birth

Children born into common law relationships Children born into common law relationships are 3 times as likely to have to deal with the are 3 times as likely to have to deal with the break up of their parents’ relationship than break up of their parents’ relationship than children born in married relationshipschildren born in married relationships

Systems TheorySystems Theory Removing the father from the home, or Removing the father from the home, or

not having the father present from the not having the father present from the beginning, has an affect on the family beginning, has an affect on the family dynamics of the householddynamics of the household

If the relationship between the father If the relationship between the father and children changes (the ‘system’) , it and children changes (the ‘system’) , it affects the dynamics of the whole family affects the dynamics of the whole family structure and householdstructure and household

This can create difficulty in a child’s lifeThis can create difficulty in a child’s life

Dynamics of RelationshipDynamics of Relationship Marital conflict has an influence on Marital conflict has an influence on

children’s developmentchildren’s development If a child is subjected to Destructive conflict, If a child is subjected to Destructive conflict,

this can have a very negative impact on them this can have a very negative impact on them for a couple of reasons:for a couple of reasons: 1. parents will probably use the same 1. parents will probably use the same

method (angry, hostile conflict) on children method (angry, hostile conflict) on children 2. parents may not be as ‘emotionally 2. parents may not be as ‘emotionally

available’ for their children – so children available’ for their children – so children experience more tension and maybe even experience more tension and maybe even some kind of physical abusesome kind of physical abuse

Constructive ConflictConstructive Conflict Children learn positive problem Children learn positive problem

solving skills – parents are good role-solving skills – parents are good role-modelsmodels

How does child interpret How does child interpret conflict?conflict?

Some children will ‘internalize’ the Some children will ‘internalize’ the conflict and actually begin to feel conflict and actually begin to feel that the conflict is their faultthat the conflict is their fault

Children who become involved in the Children who become involved in the conflict suffer more maladjustment conflict suffer more maladjustment than those who distance themselvesthan those who distance themselves

Working ParentsWorking Parents Parents are spending less and less Parents are spending less and less

time with their childrentime with their children Parents are having difficulty managing Parents are having difficulty managing

their time and many Canadian families their time and many Canadian families are facing a ‘time crunch’are facing a ‘time crunch’

This is particularly true of families This is particularly true of families when mom works more than 20 hours when mom works more than 20 hours per week (which is becoming a per week (which is becoming a necessity in today’s economy)necessity in today’s economy)

Do Parents’ Jobs Affect Do Parents’ Jobs Affect Children?Children?

Parents who work in stressful job Parents who work in stressful job situations in which they see children situations in which they see children at risk quite often become more at risk quite often become more ‘overprotective’ of their children – ‘overprotective’ of their children – particularly when they reach the particularly when they reach the teenage yearsteenage years

Parents bring the stress of their jobs Parents bring the stress of their jobs home with them home with them

Homework QuestionsHomework Questions 1. Read the Case Study on p. 334 1. Read the Case Study on p. 334

and answer questions on p. 335and answer questions on p. 335 2. P. 336 #3 and 42. P. 336 #3 and 4