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Changing patterns in family life . Changes in the economy, society and technology. Family size and age at which people become parents. Changing patterns in parenting and family life. Families are more child-centred. Increased ethnic diversity in society.
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Changes in the economy, society and technology Family size and age at which people become parents Changing patterns in parenting and family life Families are more child-centred Increased ethnic diversity in society Employment patterns and caring responsibilities Increasing numbers of young adults live with their parents There is more variety in family structures and relationships The growth of the lone-parent family
Changes in the economy, society and technology • Opportunities: Children have more opportunities to enjoy life and succeed than ever before, more chance to travel, learn, employment • Studying: More children work hard and succeed at school, going on to study at college or university • Communication: The internet and mobile phones have changed the way children communicate and obtain information • Freedom of choice: Families have more choice in how they live, from choosing what they eat, to where they live and to how they spend their leisure time.
Family size and age at which people become parents • First time mothers are older: the average age of giving birth to the first child has gone up from the mother being 23 years in 1971 to 29 years in 2007 • Families are smaller: Parents are having few children. During the 1960’s a woman would have on average 3 children. In 2007 a woman is having an average of 2 children. • Teenage mothers: Britain has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in western Europe and the second highest in the world.
Families are more child-centred • Families are smaller: With fewer children to care for, more individual care and attention can be given to each child • More leisure time: Today’s parents work fewer hours and have a more affluent. So with more time and money can be spent on children and their leisure activities. • TV Programmes and books: There are many books and programmes that instruct parents on the best ways to bring up their children • Consumer society: Children are targeted by large businesses to encourage them to want the latest toys and gadgets. Parents often feel the need to give in to their children’s demands.
Increased ethnic diversity in society • Marriage trends in different ethnic groups: Young Muslim adults are more likely to be married than from any other culture and those with Indian and Pakistani backgrounds tend to have larger families. • Ethnicity and employment trends: Black women often remain in full time employment whereas white and Indian women are more likely to be in part-time employment. • Mixed-ethnicity marriages: The number of mixed-ethnicity marriages has increased.
Increasing numbers of young adults live with their parents. • Delay in leaving parental home: Some young people delay leaving home because of economic necessity, such as difficulties getting employment, house prices and availability • Against the trend of living with parents: There is an increase in homelessness. Some young people from disadvantaged groups live apart from their parents at a young age – including teenage mothers, and young people estranged from their parents.
More variety in family structures and relationships • Changes in divorce patterns: There has been a long-term increase in the divorce rate. It is estimated that 28% of children will experience divorce in their family and that 2.5 million are living in stepfamilies. • More parents are cohabiting: It has become increasingly common for parents to live together without marrying. The number of cohabiting couple families increased by 65% between 1996 and 2006. • Cohabiting-couple families are younger than married-couple families: In 2001 half of cohabiting-couple families were headed by a person under the age of 35. • Reconstituted or step families: In the past step families were created when a parent died. Nowadays they are usually formed after separation of divorce.
The growth of the lone-parent family • More children living in lone-parent families: There are more children living in lone-parent families than ever before. The rate has tripled since 1971 • Lone-parents are more likely to be poor: 50% of lone-parent families live on low incomes • Teenage mothers often have fragile relationships with their partner: In 2001 fact 50% of such relationships end before the baby is one year old. • It is becoming easier for lone-parents to work: Lone-parents are helped by child tax credits and an increase in childcare places
Employment patterns and caring responsibilities • Mothers are working more: Since 1970 the proportion of women working has increased from 56 to 70 per cent • Fathers are spending more time with their children: In the 1970’s fathers spent less than quarter of an hour with their children. In the 1990’s fathers were spending an average of 2 hours on child-related activities. • More childcare services are available: This has made it more easier for both parents to work with so many nurseries, preschools, workplace creches and childminders available • New legal rights for working parents: Extended maternity leave, paternity leave, flexible working arrangements has enabled mothers and fathers to find a work-life balance which suits there family’s needs.
