We often hear that a DNA paternity test helped bring a family together, which is a very rewarding outcome for our employees. With 41% of babies born out of wedlock today, what are some of the challenges faced by children raised without a father?
We found some startling facts at www.thisistheedge.org, a non-profit organization that addresses emotional problems in school-age children and helps them build greater emotional awareness.
- Preschoolers living without their biological father are 40 times more likely to be a victim of child abuse.
- Girls from fatherless homes are 111% (over 2X) more likely to have an unwed pregnancy.
- 70% of juveniles in state reform institutions grew up in father-absent homes.
- 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes.
- Girls from fatherless homes are 92% (nearly 2X) more likely to divorce.
- A child living with his/her divorced mother, compared to a child living with both parents, is 375% more likely to need professional treatment for emotional or behavioral problems is almost twice as likely to repeat a grade of school, is more likely to suffer chronic asthma, frequent headaches, and/or bedwetting, develop a stammer or speech defect, suffer from anxiety or depression, and be diagnosed as hyperactive.
Just because a child is raised by a single mother doesn’t mean that he or she will experience these same issues. An old African proverb says, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. How true this is! Single moms work hard and stay strong for their kids. As family, friends and community members, we can help by taking an interest and watching for early warning signs of a child in distress. Everyone benefits when children are healthier!
The American Academy of Pediatrics provides tips for recognizing signs of behavioral and emotional issues in children ages birth to 21. Check out their informative website, www.healthychildren.org.
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