The Benefit of a Two-Parent Household

The parents' relationship status determines the child's general welfare and well-being. Children who are raised by two biological married parents tend to fare better than others. Studies reveal that the children in single-parent or step-parent homes develop differently as compared to kids born from married biological parents (Bloome, 2017). Parental conflicts such as divorce are known factors that affect children adversely with these kids affected with academic under-achievements, quality adult relationships, psychological impairment, and behavioral issues. They are also susceptible to forming families early and outside of marriage. Concentrating on the variations in parenthood is essential as it expands understanding of how important families are for children. It is also necessary since marriage and the family is an emerging issue in the U.S policy as it implements measures that are likely to improve child outcomes. Therefore, it is valid to argue that the children raised in biological two-parent homes receive numerous benefits associated with such family structure as opposed to those raised in single-parent households.

Trust and Open Communication 

Children raised by both parents are more likely to develop open communication with their parents since they are more involved with their co-curricular activities as well as social lives. These children tend to participate more in sports, music, art, and other events with support from their parents. Support may come in the form of attending in the child's play, football games, or any other performances, helping and directing them in doing some tasks, or even sharing experiences from when they are younger (Broderick et al., 2019). Engaging in such efforts makes these kids more open as it fosters a relationship built on trust. Such actions also show that the parents care, which is essential in promoting positive cognitive and emotional development, especially since children thrive on nurture and care. In a single-parent household, one parent may be held up working, affecting how much time they spend with their children, who, in turn, would feel disconnected, making opening up or confiding in their parents a difficult phenomenon.

Gender-Specific Support 

Children raised by both parents in one household receive gender-specific support that is necessary for their development. Parents play different roles in the lives of their children; mothers are believed to nurture and care for their children as fathers provide a disciplinary mindset within the household. The gender-specific roles, as well as the deeply rooted interactions offered through parenthood, play an essential part in children's development. Further, biological interactions are essential for child development in both boys and girls, which is the one key thing lacking in single-parent homes.

Relationships and Divorce 

The likelihood of divorce is slim in children whose families are in intact marriages. Children whose parents divorce experience tension factored by the increased differences in their parents' ethics and beliefs. This factor is increasingly crucial for steady relationships as children master their decision-making skills at a young age, often influenced by their parents' ideas and values. Children who assumedly come from divorced parents' households often suffer more emotionally as compared to those children who were brought up in unhappy homes with marriages that had little to no conflict (Broderick et al., 2019). All children are entitled to social, economic, and emotional support to achieve the required state of security and comfort which kids from intact households have in abundance. Children from two-parent homes build relationships better since they have a different perception of marriages and nurturing compared to children from broken families

Financial and Economic Stability 

Children brought up in two-parent homes are likely to have financial and economic stability since both adults can generate income. Economic security is an essential element in healthcare promotion, good education, and comfortable living, as well as also cushions the family from the negative impact of living in poverty during a financial crisis (Bloome, 2017). Single-parent households have a likelihood of facing economic strains as the parent singlehandedly will be forced to take up multiple jobs or work long shifts, which affect the time they spend with their children making their kids disengaged. Children from these families are affected by their parent choices as they are left most of the time on their own. Families that go through financial strains, in turn, face challenges of living in nurturing conditions that are conducive for children to grow in as you can get the money the parent obtain from various jobs is not enough to sustain their entire needs (Bloome, 2017). Despite some of these low-income households being managed by two parents, most of these families are from single parents who earn low wages to support their families.

Economic and Social Resources 

Children enjoy the added advantage of having enough economic and social resources from a two-parent household, increasing their exposure to cognitive, academic, cultural, and developmental stimulation. These children also experience further learning opportunities that are likely to impact various aspects of their lives and well-being. Children who go through early childhood education have been known to have increased life expectancy and reduced instances of chronic diseases such as heart conditions and lifestyle diseases (Broderick et al., 2019). Children from such backgrounds tend to develop more psychologically and have strong emotional resilience as they have solid community support. Parents who foster a positive foundation for their children academically give their children the benefit of increasing the likelihood of success in many ways. First, their children have increased chances of getting into the right career paths with probable good wages and healthy working environments. The learning they get from school, and the increased participation of their parents towards their development contributes to cultural knowledge as well as increased cognitive skills that are necessary for making good choices (Bloome, 2017). Thus, a good household is the one that consists of two parents since it shapes the social and physiological aptitudes of a child, such as teamwork, life skills, social support, and self-control, which are essential attributes into adulthood.

Behavioral Development 

Two-parent households are less likely to harbor children who portray delinquent behavior such as drug and substance abuse, and antisocial behavior. Studies show that there are increased reports of delinquency in children who stem from divorced family households as compared to two-parent homes (Bloome, 2017). Divorce and separation in child development are factors to be considered that affect the mental stability of a child, causing anxiety and depression Children from single-parent homes are more likely to engage in misconducts such as tobacco and drug use, general delinquency including criminal act, for instance, thefts and mugging people. This factor stems from different family structures and parental styles that make a household function. Two-parent households are more likely to be keen and note a change in their children's behavior as compared to single-parent or divorced households. Children from single-parent homes are affected by multiple factors in the environment in which they grow up in; one could be the fact that the other parent is not their biological father or mother, which impacts on their behavior. Also, the other parents may not be receptive or accept these children as his or her own, creating the indifference. Studies indicate that children who live with single mothers are 14 times likely to be victims of physical abuse as compared to children living with married biological parents (Bloome, 2017). Children from parents who cohabitate, especially in situations where the man is not the child's father, are 33 times more likely to be victims of child abuse (Broderick et al., 2019). A third of adolescents from married families are sexually active. However, the number of teenagers from divorced families, single parents, stepfamilies, and cohabiting households raise these figures to two thirds.

Education 

Children raised in two-parent households are more likely to achieve their educational goals as compared to children from cohabiting and single-parent families. The majority of children from two-parent homes have a higher likelihood of completing their education up to a college degree, and some even progress in attaining their master's degree. However, children from single and cohabiting homes are not as advantaged, and not many get to graduate from high school. Those who graduate choose not to progress to the university. Most of these children opt to get casual employment to support their parents, mostly since they grew up in rough economic situations (Bloome, 2017). Likewise, most of these parents are less involved in their children's school progress, meaning that their poor academics may go unnoticed. Equally, truancy from schools is high in single-parent households, especially in situations where some of these parents work more than one job (Bloome, 2017). Two-parent families divide the responsibility of monitoring their children's activities, following up with their teachers to measure their academic progress. They are also involved in their children's school selection, especially after high school, encouraging them to go after their ambitions.

Rebuttal 

Indeed, it is true that children from two-parent households have multiple advantages and tend to be physically and emotionally healthier than those from divorced and single families. Given that these kids are raised by two parents, they will higher probabilities of enjoying financial stability and also grow up in a loving, stable environment with less tension of physical and emotional abuse. Also, the fact that both parents the mother and father join forces in raising their family, the kids from such background will have the upper hand as both parents have specific roles to play in their children's lives. However, single parenthood should not be condemned completely for making children delinquents or making them possess antisocial behavior. Kids from single parents' households can also be progressively active emotionally, socially, and even with upright behavior as children in two-parent homes. The family structure cannot solely dictate how kids are raised and nurtured; the parent values are what matters the most seeing the child through childhood into adulthood.

Conclusion 

Within the constraints of the family, there are numerous concerns over the increasing number of single-parent households, which affect the well-being of their children. Children brought up in two-parent homes have the advantage of emotional and psychological stability, factored by the different roles that each of their parents plays in their development. However, it is essential to note that factors such as economic stability and conflict can affect children indirectly, even if their parents are married. Hence, the need to facilitate increased marriage counseling for couples such that they can find better ways to resolve their conflict without hurting their children. Healthy two-parent households are known to positively impact their children's health, academics, and developmental skills, meaning that they are less likely to go through social and relationship difficulties as they grow older. They are also less likely to engage in early sexual activity and drug and substance abuse. However, this does not mean that families should choose to stick together, even when there is no love for the sake of the child; this tends to do more harm than good.

References 

Broderick, A. V., Brelsford, G. M., & Wadsworth, M. E. (2019). Interparental relationships among low income, ethnically diverse, two-parent cohabiting families.  Journal of Child and Family Studies ,  28 (8), 2259-2271.

Bloome, D. (2017). Childhood family structure and intergenerational income mobility in the United States.  Demography ,  54 (2), 541-569.