Single Parents: A Guide to Raising A Single Child

The article is expertly consulted by Assoc. Dr. Dr. Huynh Thoai Loan - Head of Pediatrics - Neonatology Department, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital. Uncle is one of the leading experts in Pediatrics - Neonatology in Ho Chi Minh City with nearly 30 years of experience in examining and treating diseases of pediatric endocrinology, pediatric nephrology and other pediatric - neonatal issues.

For single parents, raising children alone can face many obstacles. The following guidelines will help single parents overcome the challenges of raising healthy, happy children.

For a variety of reasons, a child's father or mother may decide to separate from their partner and take on the responsibility of raising the child alone. This requires single parents raising children to have strong willpower and strong will so that they can be both the mother and the father of the child.
Raising children alone is not an easy thing. Without the support of either parent, the responsibility of raising a child becomes larger and more difficult. Single parents have to take care of all the problems that arise in their children's daily lives and have to take care of the children every day without support from a partner.
Raising a child alone can cause a lot of pressure, stress and fatigue. On the other hand, many single parents cannot arrange enough time and health to be able to support their children's emotional development and shape their behavior, so negative psychological problems, baby behavior may arise.
Single-parent families also tend to have lower incomes and less access to essential health care services. Single parents who work and care for their children at the same time can cause work and family imbalances, leading to financial hardship and social isolation. Children who grow up in single families will also feel less cared for by their parents than their peers.

To reduce some pressure, single parents raising children alone can refer to the following ways:
Show love to children Although raising children alone faces many difficulties, you should still pay attention expression of love for the child. Accordingly, single parents can praise their children, spend time playing with their children, read books to their children or simply sit next to their children to erase loneliness and absence.
Create good habits for your child Help your child form good habits in life, such as going to bed on time, washing hands before eating to practice independent living.
Find a reputable childcare place or service If you are too busy with work, single parents should find a babysitter, or find a reliable person to help look after and care for the child. . However, care should be taken when choosing a child care location and service to ensure a safe and healthy development environment for your child.
Educate children from the small things Single parents raising children alone should explain the basic rules of life and teach children do's and don'ts. For example, you can teach your child to be polite to adults, not lie, and ask him to do it. Besides, you need to coordinate with your child's teachers to have a consistent way of teaching.
Don't feel guilty Raising a child alone is a necessity, not a parent's fault. Therefore, if you have to raise your child alone, don't blame yourself or your children for creating the responsibility that makes you a single parent.
Take time to take care of yourself Single parents, in addition to taking care of their children, should also take time to take care of themselves, such as exercising regularly, eating well and eating well. have a reasonable rest period. If you can't take care of your baby all day, you can ask for support from relatives, friends or child care providers.
Getting support from society A parent raising a child alone is not uncommon. Currently, there are a number of volunteer centers and organizations to support this group of people. In addition, single parents can join associations, groups, and communities to receive support from participating members, or simply sympathy from other single parents. Your local religious community or social organization may also be helpful resources for you.
Always stay optimistic If you have to raise children alone, single parents should keep an optimistic spirit and be ready to deal with every challenge every day. However, you should be honest with your child about the difficulties they are having and coax that the situation will get better. In addition, parents should not take all the responsibility of their children on themselves, but should let children take responsibility for their certain behaviors in a way that is appropriate for their age, instead of expecting their children to behave as they should. is an adult.
Parents raising children alone should note, most teenagers growing up in single families often have a higher risk of depression, while the sense of responsibility is lower than that of children of the same age . Signs and symptoms of depression include: Feeling isolated, prejudiced from society; sad mood, loneliness; not feeling love; do not like the way you look; feeling irritable; despair mentality. If you notice these signs, single parents need to take their child to see a doctor for timely treatment, to avoid affecting the child's future in the future.

Many single parents have to raise children alone due to conflicts in marital relationships, leading to divorce or separation. In this case, frankly share with your child about the parent's situation if the child already has certain knowledge about marriage and family. After that, let your child express his feelings and try to answer all his questions honestly.
In any case, children are not the cause of broken family happiness. On the contrary, children in single-parent families need to be loved even more to ease the pain of loss due to the lack of love from their parents.
If necessary, single parents can ask for a counselor to help you and your child deal with life's problems in a better way. In addition, single mothers should regularly contact and let their children meet their father (and vice versa) to update their children's situation and also to help children feel the full presence of both parents. (that the child is not an orphan of a father or a mother). Thus, even though both parents of the child may be divorced, it is still best to put the children's interests first, especially in cases where the support of both parents is needed.

In fact, many people are upset when they know that their partner has a child. However, if they accept that and accept the responsibility of taking care of the child with you, it is a very precious thing. In this case, a single parent should carefully consider their relationship before introducing their child to the new adoptive parent.
When you're ready to talk to your child, explain and convince her with the positive qualities of your new partner and how they can make up for life and the family's future. However, your child needs time to get used to and become close to your adoptive parents and new life partner. However, you should still be frank with your children about your broken marriage, to avoid letting them misunderstand their biological parents.

Some couples divorce, the children may never see their father or mother face to face. In this case, the absence of a parent's role model can lead to the child's lack of perception of gender as male or female. about the opposite sex. To avoid this, single parents raising children alone should:
Explain gender differences and positive traits in the other sex, giving examples of family members, relatives of child. Avoid giving subjective and conflicting opinions that make children misperceive about gender. Evidence shows that, men and women can completely build a positive, long-term emotional relationship together. Raising a child alone is a journey full of challenges and responsibilities that only single parents who are inside can understand. However, by showing love and appreciation for your child, combined with a positive lifestyle and honest conversations, your baby will grow up strong, healthy and happy.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

Article referenced source: Mayoclinic.org