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Today's children are born into a world unlike that their parents or grandparents know. For these children the family structure is likely to be far less constant and predictable. Many will experience their parents' divorce (perhaps as many as 40 percent), live in a one-parent family (20 percent did in 1983), or with step-parents (15 percent did in 1983). They will probably be cared for at times outside their home because of their mothers' employment. In 1982, 55 percent of all children under 18 and 47 percent of all children under 6 had mothers who were in the work force. This means that today's children should be prepared to cope with family changes and to adapt to a variety of care-giving arrangements. It means parents will need to use the fewer hours they have with their children more creatively. Parents, caregivers, and teachers may need to help children handle the uncertainties and changes of their lives.
Ronald Pitzer
Family Sociologist
Originally published in May, 1984
College of Human Ecology in cooperation with the University of Minnesota Extension Service
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