Single-Parent Households

Single-Parent Households

It has become more and more common to see single parents raising their children. The percentage of children living in single-parent households in the United States has significantly increased in recent years, jumping from 9% in the 1960s to 28% in 2012 (Amato et al. 2015).

Are There Differences Between Single-Parent and Two-Parent Households?

While single-parent households can influence academic achievement of children, this is not always the case. It is important to be aware that, on a whole, single-parent households do not have widespread consequences on children's academic achievement. Research supports that children of single-parent households perform just as well as children of two-parent households.

• The most important way to support your child is to get involved with children's activities.
• Language input is especially important for early literacy, so making the time to consistently talk to and interact with your child is crucial.
• Parental involvement in children's literacy practice positively affects children's academic achievement.