The Changing Rhythms Of American Family Life
several factors that contribute to the decline in the amount of time that children spend outdoors. Over the past fifty to sixty years the dynamics of the American family has changed. Families today face more challenges and often to respond in ways that may seem logical but that pose potential risks to their children. In the Sixties the average family consisted of a working father, a stay at home mother and on average, 2.5 children. But today the family structure has changed. In the book, The Changing Rhythms of American Family Life, the author states that when considering how families have changed over the past several decades, two prominent factors emerge above the rest, an “increase in maternal employment and an increase in single parenting.”
“Mother’s employment within two-parent families increased substantially after 1970, and marriages in general are less stable than they were fifty years ago,” (Bianchi, et al 3). And while there are great number of factors that have contributed to the changes within the family, it is believed that on average parents spend approximately forty percent less time with their children than during the mid-sixties. Along with the decline of two parent households, and with both parents often working outside the home, many adults struggle to balance the demands of work, home and family. As a result, overwhelmed parents often turn to the screen to occupy their children and allow them time to get things done. In an article published by the National Center for Health Research, it is stated that, “Children in the United States are spending more time in front of screens, watching television, movies, and using computers and iPhones, than ever before. And parents are not just “letting” their children watch but are often actively encouraging these forms of passive entertainment. TV, iPads, and iPhones are always available
“Mother’s employment within two-parent families increased substantially after 1970, and marriages in general are less stable than they were fifty years ago,” (Bianchi, et al 3). And while there are great number of factors that have contributed to the changes within the family, it is believed that on average parents spend approximately forty percent less time with their children than during the mid-sixties. Along with the decline of two parent households, and with both parents often working outside the home, many adults struggle to balance the demands of work, home and family. As a result, overwhelmed parents often turn to the screen to occupy their children and allow them time to get things done. In an article published by the National Center for Health Research, it is stated that, “Children in the United States are spending more time in front of screens, watching television, movies, and using computers and iPhones, than ever before. And parents are not just “letting” their children watch but are often actively encouraging these forms of passive entertainment. TV, iPads, and iPhones are always available