What Are The Pros And Cons Of Non Traditional Families

Traditional Vs. Non-Traditional Families What exactly is the ideal family in the United States? Most people would define this type of family as traditional. A traditional family would include a mom, a dad, and at least one child living in the same household. On the other hand, the non-traditional family might include divorced parents, same sex parents, a single parent, or a parent/guardian. Is the traditional home environment better than the non - traditional environment when it comes to the well-being of a child? Research shows that the way a child is raised by his/her parents, regardless of the type of family environment, is the major contributing factor in the child’s success or lack of success in life. ("What Is a Non-Traditional Family? - Definition of Options - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com")
There are pros and cons that support both types of family environments. Living in a traditional home with a mom and a dad who are happily married could lead to a positive home environment. Traditional family environments can help children form strong relationships, perform better academically, and communicate socially with their peers. This will happen only if the relationships within that family setting are positive and healthy. If these relationships are not encouraging, the
family could become stressed, and conflict could arise continuously. ("What Is a Non-Traditional Family? - Definition of Options - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com")
Another positive aspect of the traditional family is the means of financial stability, which plays a major role in the health and well-being of the child.
Economic stability in a home of more than one child would allow parents to pay for extracurricular activities without struggle. A husband and wife together provide a stronger income for the family; consequently, in the relationship there would be less stress leading to less conflict. A negative aspect would be if both parents are contributing to the family finances, but one parent is taking care of children, cooking, and cleaning. This may become a burden which would lead to depression and anxiety. ("Types of Family
Structures") Statistics show that less than half of children in the United States live in a traditional family. ("Less than Half of U.S. Kids Today Live in a 'traditional' Family")The whole American Dream Family is not what most people exhibit. Non-traditional families have become more and more prevalent in the United States. There are very specific pros and cons of this type of family environment. A single family home might produce a child that will be independent because of the relationship formed with that parent. A single parent might be more open and honest with his/her child, which leads to a closer bond and relationship. On the other hand, children from single family homes tend to be lower- performing academically because parents tend not to be as involved in their schooling. A single parent might be abusive or violent to a child because he/she has no outlet or resources to help with the day to day routines of running a household. In another type of non-traditional family, studies show that same sex family environments do not affect the social well-being of a child. Children of same sex parents adjust equally as well as children from traditional homes. ("Parenting and Child Development in Nontraditional Families")
As one can see, there are several pros and cons to traditional vs. non-traditional families. One would think that living in a traditional family would always be the best choice, but after doing research one might conclude that some of the non-traditional settings for families might be a better choice for some children. It is true that children cannot choose their parents, and, whether he/she is in a traditional family or a non-traditional family a child should be loved and taken care of by whomever they call Mom and Dad.