As marriage rates plummet and the percentage of intact families sharply declines, experiments that challenge the fundamental nature of the family are adding to the chaos that threatens civil society. A new report released this month by the Institute for American Values and the Commission on Parenthood’s Future explores the impact on children of such experimental arrangements throughout the world. The findings are cause for concern. The spectrum of associations referred to as “families” ranges from single parenthood by choice to networks of multiple adults called “parents.” Often masking the …
For the first time in more than a decade, the rate of pregnancies among 18- and 19-year-olds is on the rise. Unwed mothers and children born outside of marriage are more likely to be poor, increasing likelihood of dependence on government welfare. If we seek limited government, we need solutions to reduce the trend of unwed pregnancy. As far as school instruction and programs for teens are concerned, the good news is that a recent report shows programs that teach abstinence exclusively (without “safe sex” caveats) are effective in delaying …
At this gift-giving time of year, parents should keep in mind that the best present they could offer their children is their presence. Findings from decades of sociological research featured at FamilyFacts.org show that parental involvement has substantial positive impact in virtually every aspect of children’s lives. Parents’ investment can be considered in terms of four “Ts”: Time, Talk, Tracking, and Treasuring their relationship with their offspring. Time: Studies reveal that the time parents spend with their children has an impact on issues ranging from emotional health to school outcomes. …
Blocking Children’s Path to a Better Future Omnibus Spending Bill Eliminates Opportunity: As it stands now, the House omnibus bill will eliminate the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (DCOSP). Since the program’s inception in 2004, the DCOSP has given thousands of low-income students in the District of Columbia access to a better education. For Children in Need: About 1,700 children currently attend private school using opportunity scholarships. The average household income of a DCOSP family is $23,000. Safe and Effective Learning Environments: DCOSP has yielded positive results for its participants. Studies …
FamilyFacts.org has compiled the Top 10 Findings that explore the link between parental involvement and academic success. Studies show that there is a strong positive link between parental involvement and all areas of academic success including, school readiness for preschoolers, being well-behaved in middle school, and graduating from high school. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx8Vbeqqpno[/youtube]
