Single parenting: no matter where you are in life, it can be tough. Only single parents themselves truly understand how challenging it can be to handle all aspects of parenting on one’s own.
The challenge is increased when parenting children with disability, behavioural issues or neurodivergence. However, there are resources to help single parents navigate the challenges of solo parenting.
If you’re a single parent who’s in need of help, Anglicare Victoria outline several strategies and resources in this post.
Solo parenting and effects on children: the research
Research shows that growing up in a single-parent household can present challenges for kids, such as reduced school performance, higher risk of behavioural issues, and higher risk of psychological and emotional difficulties. However, these issues are not predetermined and, with the right resources and support, children can enjoy a stable, supportive household that promotes happiness and wellbeing.
Strategies for navigating solo parenthood
Every family is unique and different, but there are several strategies that can be beneficial to almost every single parent. These include:
- Building a strong family and social network
One important pillar of support is having other trusted adults around to lend a hand when you’re in need. Whether it’s your best friends, siblings or parents, these adult figures can help to alleviate the pressure of single parenthood and provide other strong examples for children to look up to.
- Spending time with children
Solo parenting can be challenging when it comes to finding quality time to spend with children. Most of one’s time is dedicated to running a household, and the kids themselves usually have more responsibilities than children in dual parent households. However, with resources like Anglicare Victoria’s ParentZone (further discussed below), single parents are given the tools they need to spend quality time with children.
Anglicare Victoria’s ParentZone program: supporting single parents
Anglicare Victoria’s ParentZone program is designed to help all families, including single parents, with navigating the struggles of parenthood. ParentZone focusses on:
- Improving communication between carers and children
- Preparing parents to cope with all ages and stages of childhood
- Learning strategies to positively shape and develop a child’s potential
- Strengthening family relationships as a whole
- Empowering children to manage their emotions
- Fostering strong relationships while dealing with additional challenges such as disability, neurodivergence, loss, trauma, separation and divorce
All single parents will, at one point or another, experience challenges in parenthood, but Anglicare Victoria is here to help. Our ParentZone program is a free-of-charge service available to parents who need support. We help families work together and create positive, long-lasting change within the family dynamic. Get in touch with Anglicare Victoria and enquire about the ParentZone program today.
