Working parents often feel guilty about not being able to spend enough time with their kids. The work pressure, office hours, and mental exhaustion leave parents with little energy to spend quality time with their children, much to their dismay. Although working parents do their best to spend as much time as possible with their growing kids, the guilt trip is never-ending. If you also face the same dilemma, here are some of the effects of working parents on children, and they aren’t as negative as you would think. It might encourage you to see things more positively.
How do working parents affect child development?
There is no correct answer to whether it is right for both parents to work or not. Due to difficult economic conditions and the desire to provide a comfortable lifestyle for their kids, it’s becoming common for both parents to join the workforce. However, if you have been feeling guilty about this, here are some points to better understand how working parents positively affect overall child development.
Your child leads a better life
With both parents working, providing a quality life for kids becomes easier. Better schooling and education for children are two primary effects of having working parents. Fulfilling their needs and demands is another thing that becomes easier when you have more income. While we might not want to cave into all our kiddos’ whims, having the financial power to do the same brings peace of mind.
Kids learn the importance of time
You might not be able to spend several hours with your kids daily, but whatever time you spend with them, you make sure it’s entirely devoted to them. Even children value your time and efforts as they can see you are busy and actively trying to spend time with them. Moreover, it helps them understand that time is indispensable and can’t return once it is gone. Hence, your kids learn to value it and understand its meaning at an early age.
It helps kids learn valuable work lessons
There must be some life or work lessons you can teach your kids from your day at the office, as per their age. Be it some fun stories, important lessons about work ethic, or any other valuable lessons, it helps kids understand life better and develop better work ethic early on.
Kids learn the importance of hard work
Seeing their mom and dad working daily, doing their best to fulfill their demands, and providing them with quality education and lifestyle helps kids understand the meaning of hard work from an early age. It even helps them respect and appreciate your efforts and the little things you do for them.
It teaches kids about work-life balance
No matter how burned out you are or have a packed schedule, you make it a point to take time for your family, especially your kids. This is what your child will learn, too — how to create a decent work-life balance. Looking at how you prioritize family, they too will discover that family is everything and far more important than work. This will encourage them to take some time out for their loved ones in the future.
Children learn the importance of helping out in-house
It’s important to teach kids that every little help counts in the house and that no work is gender specific. It gives you the perfect opportunity to lead by example, making it a significant effect working parents have on children. Seeing you both helping each other around the house, be it in the kitchen, laundry, etc., children learn the importance of working together to finish the chores despite being exhausted. This might even encourage your little one to help around as much as possible, even when they are young, so that you can enjoy things together as a family.
Kids learn the art of multitasking
It is a fact that being a working individual and looking after the house takes a lot of effort, teamwork, and planning, irrespective of whether you are working from home, in the office, or following a hybrid mode. This multitasking ability is another important thing your little one will learn from you. Seeing you efficiently tackle office meetings and house chores will encourage them to multitask when needed.
It makes kids independent
Kids with working parents become independent from an early age. Since their parents are working, children must do their chores, learn to make certain decisions, and so on. This also helps them to become confident decision-makers in the future.
It encourages kids to pursue their dreams despite hardships
Creating a perfect balance between personal and professional life is never easy. You might face multiple hiccups and hardships along the way. However, seeing you facing all the hardship and still pursuing your dream or passion encourages them to do the same. It motivates them to pursue their goals without giving up easily.
It teaches kids that it is okay to let go sometimes
There may have been times when you had to let go of your promotion or a better job opportunity because you would have to move to a different city. However, you passed on the opportunity without a second thought as it might be difficult for your family to relocate or because they don’t like the place. This is another important thing your child will learn from you. It’s okay to let go of certain things, as family and comfort are more important than anything else.
We agree that it’s not essential for both of you to be working parents to teach your kids these important life lessons. Being a stay-at-home mom or dad comes with its own set of challenges. It also provides various opportunities to teach valuable life lessons to your kids. However, when your kids see you working, fulfilling your dreams, and managing your personal lives, it affects them differently.
Though having working parents has significant positive outcomes, it can also negatively affect children. For instance, a kid might become stubborn and aggressive due to a lack of undivided attention. Sometimes, when parents fail to spend time with their little ones, their bond suffers and may widen as the children grow up.
Hence, it is crucial for working parents to create a perfect balance for a positive impact on their children. Spend quality time with your kids, always be available for your child no matter how busy you are, have open communication with your little ones, take them on vacations, and so on to ensure strong parent-child bonding and for their overall well-being. Be a role model for your little one – someone who prioritizes family over work.
