"Children always suffer when both parents work" Discuss.

In modern-day society, both genders are equally of the same standard. For most families in Singapore, both partners work so as to have a higher income to provide for their children. Women are no longer regarded as less important than Man; actually, they are on par with Man. However, when both parents work, their children often get neglected at home.

Most children have adapted to the sub-culture of being called 'latch-key children' as when they reach home, no one is at home. The children mostly spend their time alone doing work or revision at home. Or their parents would put them in a daycare centre. For more affluent families, they employ maids or babysitters to keep an eye on their children while they are away. This 'tradition' is a common sight in Singapore and the action stops when the child is independent enough to take care of himself.

There are actually a few good points about being 'latch-key kids' too. Drug-abuse is more common in the past as compared to present-day society. Children who are 'latch-key kids' have a lower rate of drug-abuse than children with the parents staying at home. Although it happens occasionally, it is much lesser than in the past. Maybe 'latch-key kids' grow up quicker in their mindset and can differentiate between what is right and wrong.

Many people have the mindset that 'latch-key kids' are more prone to ending up in juvenile homes as they are school dropouts. However, the stereotype is wrong. It is only children from less educated families or large families who are more common to crimes. One of the reasons is that the children are neglected due to the family size, although a parent may be staying st home. It does not matter if a parent may be staying at home or not, it is about the amount and quality of care given. If a child at home is not really cared for by his parent, he will still astray eventually.

However, kids fail to realise that their parents are working for their own good. They both work to provide extra income for the family to lead a better life, or to go on a vacation to enjoy themselves once a year. With more income, teenage theft would drop.

Some parents may not think that babysitters are good part-time partners, so they enrol their children into boarding schools. Schools like NUS High and NJC (National Junior College) will make it compulsory for students to live in the school hostel for as long as half a year, depending on the school. Parents have not been disappointed with the results of boarding school as they are no records of crimes. Winston Churchill is one of the greatest who lived and studied in a boarding school.

In conclusion, parents should at least try and be more enthusiastic to their children by expressing more love more often. Then, children will not feel that neglected anymore and will not suffer that much. However, it is ultimately up to the child to choose what he wants to do, be it good or bad.