Parents play an important role in molding the development of their children. Everything from parents’ personality, behavior, communication efforts, and work ethic will play a role in how the child grows up in this world.
Since many households have to have two working parents, be it outside of the home or inside of the home, it’s vital that we visit and discuss the topic of the effects of working parents on a child’s development. We wanted to share some of the ways that being a working parent can mold how a child develops.
Positive Home Environment
When children are raised by working parents they tend to have a more positive home environment. The child’s needs are met easier and the family has a routine that abides by the parents’ work schedule. A working parent can provide for the child’s needs easier, and more often thus helping a child to have a positive upbringing with all of their personal and academic goals being met without financial hardship.
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More Mature Outlook
When both parents opt to work and hold a steady job, the children learn more life lessons such as work ethic and being financially responsible for the family. Children will develop into more independent and mature thinking adults as they will have had to help around the home and opt to learn life skills sooner in life as their parents work outside of the home. Children may have to make meals when their parents are at work or tend to a family pet as well as other household duties.
Understand the Value of Time
Many working parents value their time at home more than those who are stuck home all of the time. This helps children grow up with the influences that time is valuable and they don’t take as much for granted. This helps children develop into stronger, more confident adults who tend to value work and time with family more strongly than those who weren’t raised by working parents.
One of the biggest effects of working parents on a child’s development has more to do with how old the child is when the parent is working. Many studies have shown that working parents who stay home until the child enters school has more of an overall impact on the effects of child development.
For example, children who had working parents who were home less frequently before age 5 had lower academic success and struggled more with other areas in life. This is partially due to the fact that children need more time and attention from their parents during the younger years. As with most people, everyone responds differently to situations.
Your children may thrive from being raised by working parents who put time with their children as a high priority. Children need at least thirty minutes to an hour every day of quality time with their parents, especially during the younger years.
Whether you’re currently a working parent or thinking about becoming a working parent, we hope that these effects of working parents on a child’s development has helped shed some light on the topic so that you can make a good decision for your family and not feel guilty about being a working parent.