SINGLE PARENTING AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

This paper investigates the effects that single parenting can bring to the emotional development of students at primary school as it is more commonly seen among single-parent families, taking into account what makes this particular type of parenting both specific to single-parent families and typical for single-parent children. With an increasing number of children today being raised by a single parent, there is also an increasing need to understand what this means for their emotions. This qualitative and quantitative study explores how parenting styles, economic hardships, and social support networks interlock. The empirical findings indicate that single-parent households may face different issues. First of all, the shortage of finances and less time for emotional investment is a great limitation. However, that might not outweigh the strengths based on parent-child relationships, good communications, and community support. The research suggests that children from single-parent homes can grow up with surprising resilience and emotional well-being when supported by stable relationships. The study also stresses forming relationships with teachers, friends, and other relatives that will help them develop positively emotionally. The study further proposes that teachers and the makers of educational policy should strive for developing programs that will be supportive to all single-parent families for optimum emotional development of children. This paper sets out in general to add to understanding of the interaction between single parenting and emotional development. It is hoped that this input could be helpful too in informing practice and policy at many levels to support children in all kinds of family circumstances.