Diverse living arrangements of children

In the United States, over the past few decades, the prominence of the traditional two-parent family has gradually faded, with its place usually being taken by homes headed by a mother. Relatively few children are raised by single fathers. The pattern of this ongoing development varies considerably by major racial groups as well as by age of child. Current living arrangements for children by three classes of age, race and presence of parents were analyzed by four parental characteristics--age, educational attainment, labor force participation and existence of other siblings. Racial similarities and differences--some significant--are noted. For example, among white children, 36 percent of those under age six had a parent under age 30. Among black children, the proportion was 57 percent and among Hispanics, 46 percent. In all groups, educational attainment was higher in families with two parents. Parents' educational levels were parallel with their employment rates.