Do children suffer when both parents work?

Question

Do children suffer when both parents work?

Answer 1

My parents both work, and I never suffered from it.

Answer 2

I don't think you can say that as a general statement they suffer but I think it depends on each situation. While I don't think most kids suffer when both parents work, I do think most kids benefit from having a parent at home. I'm a stay home mom and I do feel my kids have benefited from that in many ways. In the past when I have worked I have always worked opposite my husband so that one of us was always home for them.  

Answer 3

i was very lucky in that my dad worked full time but my mum only worked 3 nights a week at a care home. the rest of the time, she was a childminder so we always had loads of kids over. my mum took me to school and picked me up every single day, and she always cooked my dinner and always put me to bed. we looked after one girl whose mum n dad worked full time. we childminded her from the age of 6 weeks until she was 13 years old. this was 5 days a week, often from 8am when she was brought round still in her pj's until occasionally as late as 6pm, and she used to go to bed at half 7pm. i remember she used to cry all the time, and i think it was because she never saw her mum or dad. she knew my mum better than she did her own. she suffered greatly.

Answer 4

This is an area in which I teach and do research, and I can say with certainty that having two parents who work does not in itself harm children. There are lots of ways it can be managed so that the children get excellent care and still spend enough time with a parent.  Alternating work shifts, relative care (such as a grandma), in-home sitter, and high quality day care are all beneficial to the child.  Not only does s/he get the experience of bonding with more adults, his/her family can offer more financial advantages, such as full insurance coverage, educational activities, and savings for college.  And some families just cannot survive on one income.

But there are some situations in which a child may suffer, including leaving a young infant in day care for too many hours, or leaving any child with a caregiver who does not properly attend to their needs and provide a safe environment, or being separated from parents for an extreme number of hours each week.  

In making this decision, parents should consider not only what's best for their child right now, but what will be best for them in the long run.  Putting older toddlers and preschoolers in high quality care can actually improve their quality of life in the short term (by giving them educational and social experiences) and in the long term (by allowing their parents to provide financial stability and invest in their future).  Infants do best at home with a parent, however.

Answer 5

well i went back to work when my child was 10 weeks only on a part time basics, i seen many of my friends go back part time as when their children are older then they can apply 4 a full-time job, looks good that you have worked part time.

i always worked in a job that either i could take my kids or and had the school holidays off so i worked round them I'm work at a pre-school at the moment, but other friends work night shifts.

i dong think it hurts children they readjust to the situation and you still make time 4 them think its ok .

Answer 6

no. i work and so does my husband and we have no baby sitter i work on monday-10hr tuesday-friday 3hrs a day and sat- 10 hours and her dad works night shift so she get to spend time one on one with both of us and during the week she spends time with both of us

Answer 7

As a child both of my parents worked.  They worked not because they HAD to, they worked so they could have the finer things in life.  I do belive that I suffered and not having them as much as I needed caused me to act out.  I am pregnant now and have already told my boss that I will not be working as soon as I have my child.  My husband and I will make sacrifices so that our child will be a priority, not a bigger house, or new cars.

Answer 8

Nope!  I loved it that both my parents worked cause I got a lot of socialization at the daycares and then when I got old enough I was able to stay home without them constantly on my case.  Right now I stay home with my kids and I love it but I will try to remember the freedoms I had growing up and try to give that to my children.  And by the way my parents were very involved in my activities and we did them together like my dad would help me practive my softball pitching, volleyball, etc.  And they would both come to every single game.  So there are ways of interacting and bonding with your children that doesn't involve staying at home with them.

Answer 9

Well that has to be a personal question, we both work but I wish I didn't.  I only work in order to help pay the bills, so we have a roof over our head, food on the table, electricity... etc.  We don't have a huge house or new cars or anything like that or any of the finer things in life but if I didn't work I don't know how we would afford the things we have to have to survive on a daily basis.  So both of us working isn't a choice for us.