Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Parent-Child Conference 17th June 2004 Lisa Calderwood Centre for Longitudinal Studies Institute of Education, University of London

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Diversity in the family circumstances of children born at the beginning of 21st Century Family types Non-resident fathers Involvement of grandparents Siblings in and out of the household

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Millennium Cohort Study First Survey Birth Cohort Study of children born in 2000/1 Over 18,500 families across the UK Interviewed when child was aged 9 months Funded by ESRC and government departments Aim to follow up for rest of their lives…

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Family Type 85.8% of families - both natural parents 61.4% of families - married natural parents 24.4% of families - cohabiting natural parents 13.7% of families - lone natural mothers Almost all (99.5%) of children living in one of these family types

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Family Type by Mother’s Age

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Family Type by Father’s Age (All fathers)

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Family Type by Baby’s Ethnic Group

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Non-resident fathers Lone mother’s prior relationship with non-resident father 10.4% - previously married, now sep/div 33.6% - previously cohabiting, now sep 35.0% - never lived together – in a relationship 21.0% - never lived together – not in a relationship

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Lone mother’s prior relationship with non-resident father by Mother’s Age

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Non-resident fathers Frequency non-resident father sees baby 36.4% - not in any contact 14.6% - less than once a month or never 17.9% - at least once a week 16.7% - 3-6 times a week 14.4% - every day

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Frequency non-resident father sees baby by prior relationship

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Grandparents Financial help for essentials 24.7% of mother’s parent(s) 21.1% of father’s parent(s) Provision of childcare while at work 35.3% of mother’s parent(s) 18.8% of father’s parent(s) Co-residence 4.5% with mother’s parent(s) 2% with father’s parent(s)

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Financial help for essentials by Mother’s Age

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Provision of Childcare while mother at work/college by Family Type

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Living with grandparents by Baby’s Ethnic Group

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Siblings in household by Family Type Both natural parents – married Both natural parents – cohabiting Lone natural mother Any sibling(s) 62.2% 49.5% 48.9% Natural sibling(s) 58.5% 36.3% 36.1% Half-sibling(s) 5.3% 16.1% 15.3%

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Maternal half-siblings in household and Father’s children outside the household by Age

Patterns of Parenthood at the beginning of the 21st Century Diversity in the family circumstances of children born at the beginning of 21st Century Family types – little evidence of further diversification but large variation by ethnic group Non-resident fathers – many still be involved in their children’s lives Grandparents – many provide essential support to parents Siblings – complexity of modern families