DARLINGTON - Contrary to the common thinking that most children today are being raised in single-parent homes, the recent Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey shows otherwise.
The majority of teens in southwest Wisconsin are living with two parents and two-thirds of them are living with their own biological or adoptive parents. Research shows that living in a two-parent family where the adults are committed, cooperative and nurturing provides an optimal environment for children's healthy development. At the same time, there are studies that indicate that children living in single-parent homes learn to assume responsibility, develop self-reliance, gain self-esteem and have a strong parent-child relationship.
Who do teens in southwest Wisconsin live with? Of the 5,747 seventh through 12th grade students from 25 school districts in Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties who took part in the youth survey in the fall of 2009, their living arrangements include:
• Live with parent and step-parent: 13 percent
• Live with just mom or just dad: 12 percent
• Live half time with each parent: 9 percent
• Live with a parent and another adult: 1 percent
• Live in a group home or alone: 1 percent
• Live with both parents: 64 percent
"Teens Today" is provided by UW-Extension as part of the educational outreach with the Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey, 2009.
The majority of teens in southwest Wisconsin are living with two parents and two-thirds of them are living with their own biological or adoptive parents. Research shows that living in a two-parent family where the adults are committed, cooperative and nurturing provides an optimal environment for children's healthy development. At the same time, there are studies that indicate that children living in single-parent homes learn to assume responsibility, develop self-reliance, gain self-esteem and have a strong parent-child relationship.
Who do teens in southwest Wisconsin live with? Of the 5,747 seventh through 12th grade students from 25 school districts in Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties who took part in the youth survey in the fall of 2009, their living arrangements include:
• Live with parent and step-parent: 13 percent
• Live with just mom or just dad: 12 percent
• Live half time with each parent: 9 percent
• Live with a parent and another adult: 1 percent
• Live in a group home or alone: 1 percent
• Live with both parents: 64 percent
"Teens Today" is provided by UW-Extension as part of the educational outreach with the Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey, 2009.
