1. 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

2. 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

3. 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…

4. 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

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

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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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% times a week
14.4% - every day

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

12. 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)

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

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

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

16. 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%

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

18. 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