Can Single parenting affect a child‘s moral growth?

Many children are raised by single parents and it’s increasing at a very high rate due to divorce, separation amongst married couples and adoption. Single parenting is the raising of a child or children without any assistance from another parent.

There are more single mothers than single fathers in the World today. The Western society provides benefits, tax credits or government sponsored rewards to such parents unlike here in Africa where most single mothers work real hard to make ends meet for themselves and their children.

The social, behavioral and emotional life of a child depends on the upbringing of his or her parents like the saying goes "charity begins at home.” I happened to interview some people on the issue and below is what they had to say:

JOLLY IRIBAGIZA

Yes, single parenting affects a child’s moral growth because she or he does not get enough affection. A child is supposed to get full love, care and attention from both parents.

PATRICK BIGABO

Moral growth is enforced by learning especially copying and signaling stimuli. For example if a single mother has a 3yr old child and she has never seen her dad or a man in the house then the child will not learn anything  like respect or have any social link with the opposite sex.

RONALD LWEBUGA

A child needs both parents since studies show variance in behavior. The mere fact that a child does not have a person to call daddy or mummy they start raising questions of which answers are needed hence affecting the child.

IRENE WATSEMWA

Single parenting does not affect a child‘s moral growth because the upbringing of a child depends on the nature of the parent. A single mother can look after her child or children with strict measures and they become morally upright even better than those with both parents.

ROBERT MUHANGI

The direct effect of being raised by a single parent is visible especially in a child‘s mindset although single parents must be commended for raising a child alone.  The parent should not be blamed for any mental or psychological result of the situations since it’s the child‘s psychological aspect. 

AMINA AGASHE 

The child’s upbringing depends on his or her parent’s age, educational level, and occupation. If the child or children’s parent has enough time to look after them and educate the children on how to behave in society then they will have good morals.

There are children who are immoral even with both parents around. This is because they (parents) don’t get time to educate or train them on how to behave in society since they are after their careers or on business trips most of the time.

GISA SHAKA

Single parenting affects the child‘s moral growth since it affects his or her mentality especially when other children at school brag about both their parents. There comes a time when he or she thinks about how they came into this World.

What’s your say?

Email: dorau20@yahoo.co.uk