Family life in a busy world

1. How have parents busy lives changed in the past ten years, and what affects has it had on their children? Family life in a busy world

2. The labor force participation rate of married mothers with children under 3 years old increased from 32.7% in 1975 to 60.3% in 2009. Since 2009 married mothers with children under 18 working in the labor force has increased to 68.7%. Most parents also work 10 more hours per week compared to a decade ago.

3. Sources 1) Charisma Magazine: Kids and busy parents. 6/26/2008 Linda S. Mintle, Ph.D. , www.charismamag.com 2) Knowledge Center: Working Parents http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/working-parents 3) Busy Parents: The Real Cause of Childhood Obesity, Suzanne Venke, March 30 2010. http://www.newsrealblog.com 4) The Telegraph:Graeme Paton , 29 Apr 2013 http://www.telegraph.co.uk

4. This increase in the last several years has caused booms in boarding schools, and flexible boarding school options. This increase has it’s pros and it’s cons. • Pros • The boarding schools offer good after school activities to help keep kids out of trouble. • “Flexi-boarding” as parents call it, is the ability to have their children attend a boarding school a few nights a week, but does not require a full time commitment. Some parents find this a better alternative to leaving the kids home alone after school. • Cons • Parents are abdicating their responsibility of teaching their children the difference between right and wrong, acceptable behavior, and social norms. • Parents believing that moral guidance should come from school because they are to busy to teach their children themselves. • Behavioral, social, physical and mental health of the child is greatly impacted when parents are too busy for their children.

5. Parents being too busy, mostly due to both parents working outside the home, and it’s steady increase over the past ten years has caused an array of problems for our youth. Crime rates among youth and children have increased with both parents working. Yes this is sometimes unavoidable, but researchers have found that many troubles and crimes happen during the time children get out of school and before parents get home from work. These troubles increase when parents come home and feel too tired to spend any quality time with their kids. This leads to behavioral problems, and maladjusted children. Many parents feel that it is now the schools responsibility to teach their children moral responsibility. Childhood obesity has also been linked to parents being too busy. Years ago more mothers were at home to make a healthier meal, make sure kids went out to play for exercise, and to help with social learning/skills. However, todays busy parents are turning more and more to fast food, takeout, and unhealthy snacks because they are too tired when they get home from work to cook. These bad habits perpetuate unhealthy lifestyles, and breed generations of unhealthy behaviors.

6. Things busy parents can do to help their children feel happy, and become healthy well adjusted members in their communities. • Turn off media and minimize adult distractions. • Be less selfish about your own pursuits. Focus instead on improving your relationship with your child. • Try and find employment that will allow for flexible time schedules. • Network with your children's friends' parents. Don't allow children to be unsupervised after school hours. Arrange a rotating supervision schedule or a time at a local YMCA or community program. • Become emotionally involved with your children. Don't allow work to drain you to the point of exhaustion.