The Growing Process of Children from Single Parent Families: A Case Study of Four Early Childhood Education Students

• Main Authors: Kuo,Chih-Ching, 郭芷菁
• Other Authors: Jiang, Zi-Yi
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/zn3g7d

碩士 === 國立臺中教育大學 === 幼兒教育學系碩士班 === 103 === This study focused on the growing process of children from single parent families, with a case study on four early childhood education students. The study aimed to understand the parent-child interactions, the parents’ outlook on raising children and the consequent effects on their children, the emotional effect and outlook on education and marriage of the children from their parents’ separation, as well as the challenges faced and adaptive strategies used as a result. The research method used was the qualitative case study method, where the researcher interviewed four early childhood education students from single parent families using the semi-structured survey method, focus group discussions, and documentary analysis for data collection. The triangulation method was used to perform multivariate analysis, organization, and summation of the data. The results were as follows: 1. Parents’ separation could adversely affect parent-child interactions. Main causes included: 1) Single parents were too busy working to support the family 2) Single parents experienced emotional distress from the separation 3) Single parents arranged for others to take care of their children 4) Single parents began new relationships after separation The findings listed above attribute to the diminishing parent-child interactions. However, as more time passes from the parents’ separation, the parent-child interactions may improve over time. 2. Parents’ separation may lead to changes in how they raise their children; with single parents often either allowing too much freedom or enforcing strict rules. If single parents lack the time for proper parenting and thus become overly hands-off, their children often end up venturing out of the house due to a lack of boundaries. However, if excessive enforcement of rules are used when parenting, the children tend to develop thoughts of wanting to get away or run away from home as a result of pressure and stress. 3. The effects of parents’ separation on their children were observed as follows: 1) Emotional aspect: May display negative emotions such as envy, jealousy, sadness, loneliness, and awkwardness. Also may show unhappiness during certain holidays, choosing to run away from problems at home, or seeking others outside their home for comfort and consolation. 2) Education and learning aspect: Displayed drop in grades, self-abandonment, lack of attention in class, little desire to learn, lack of motivation, increased probability to hold part-time jobs, inability to balance school with other priorities, subpar interactions and relationships with classmates and friends, and poor behavior. However, on the contrary, children from single parent families may also become more mature and independent as a result of their parents’ separation. 3) Outlook on marriage: Displayed less optimism and confidence in marriage, higher inclination for feeling inferior or self-belittlement. Yet, when choosing partners or significant others, children of single parent families tend to be more prudent, look forward to marriage in general, yearns to have a family of their own, while at the same time avoiding the path that their parents took, and showing a strong sense of perseverance for their marriage. 4. The challenges faced during the growing process of single parent family early childhood education students were as follows: 1) Filling out information on both parents 2) Family financial status 3) Worries and concerns about the health issues of family members 4) Stereotypes and labels on single parent families 5) Finger pointing from others 6) Excessive attention from teachers 7) Lacking a sense of security about their surroundings Nonetheless, children from single parent families often receive care and assistance throughout their growth from aunts, colleagues, classmates, friends, volunteers, and teachers. These children often turn to keeping busy at part time jobs as a way to cast away any insecurities and stress in their lives. As time passes over the course of their growth, the children from single parent families can learn self-regulation and change their ways of thinking. Key words: single parent family, children from single parent families, growing process