Has anyone noticed the subtle rise of children living with grandparents? If you have children in school and sometimes attend school functions, you may have noticed that there are more people there that could be your parent than there are people your own age. This is because there is definitely a rise in children living with their grandparents instead of their parents.

Researchers first begin to notice an increase in the number of grandchildren living with grandparents in the early 1990's. The U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Report Marital Status and Living Arrangements: March 1992, noted that the number of children under 18 living in grandparent maintained households had increased from 2.2 million in 1970, to 2.3 million in 1980, to 3.3 million in 1992. In 1970, a little over 3 percent of all children under age 18 were living in a home maintained by their grandparents.

By 1992, this percentage had increased to nearly 5 percent. More recent data show that this trend has continued. In 1997, 3.9 million children were living in homes maintained by their grandparents - 5.5 percent of all children under age 18.

Between 1970 and 1992, the increases were greatest among children with only one parent in the household. Between 1992 and 1997, the greatest growth occurred among grandchildren living with grandparents with no parent present. The increase in grandchildren in these "skipped generations" living arrangements has been attributed to a variety of factors, including the growth in drug use among parents, teen pregnancy, divorce, the rapid rise of single-parent households, child abuse and neglect, and incarceration of parents.

The breakdown of the family in society is caused by many factors thus creating more social problems not only for parents but also for extended families and children. Society's lack of moral obligation mingled with the rise of self-gratification has won over the attempt by society to "save the children."

© 2003 by AfroStaff