Most parents would agree that a lot changes when you have kids. For many, priorities shift as they strive to provide a good life for their children. In fact, it's not uncommon for parents to put their personal pursuits aside as they focus on their little ones; things like chasing down a promotion, starting a new business, or earning a degree can fall to the wayside.
But studies show that when parents seek to improve their lives by furthering their education — and amplifying their career opportunities as a result — the positive ripple effect is evident in their children.
As the benefits of a parent's education level become clearer, it's no surprise that the higher education landscape is seeing a rise in student parents. In fact, more than four million of today's college students have children.
If you're considering going back to school but are hesitant about the impact it could have on your kids, it could be helpful to consider the influence your educational attainment could have on their lives long term. Join us as we outline three of the most prominent ways student parents positively affect their children.
3 Ways parents' education benefits their kids
The idea that earning a degree could improve your chances of climbing the ladder at work or help you secure a new job may seem pretty clear-cut. But the true effect a parent's education level can have on the lives of their family is much more far-reaching than that.
Studies have found that parents with degrees can have an important impact in the following three areas.
1. Your family's socioeconomic status
According to researchers, the link between a family's socioeconomic status and children's overall achievement is well-established. The Foundation for Child Development notes that, in today's economy, educational attainment has a very direct impact on a family's socioeconomic standing. As a result, children in low-income families may experience less success in school, lower educational attainment, and lower incomes once they reach adulthood.
Overall, the foundation's recent report revealed that children whose parents had obtained at least a college degree were 13 times less likely to live in poverty than those whose guardians had not graduated from high school. Those with college educated parents are provided with the foundation needed to achieve their own educational and socioeconomic success later in life.
2. Your children's academic success
A family's socioeconomic status can also have a meaningful impact on children's educational and occupational attainment during adolescence and into adulthood. Similarly, a parent's education level in general can directly affect the relationship their child fosters with education and learning.
According to one study, a parent's education level when their child is eight years old can significantly predict the educational and occupational success of their child 40 years later. Researchers note that a child's behavior is shaped in large part through observational and direct learning experiences. When parents model achievement-oriented behavior and provide achievement-oriented opportunities, for example, their children are likely to develop the guiding belief that educational achievement is to be valued and pursued.
The statistics support this notion. The Foundation of Child Development report noted that children whose parents graduated from high school were 67 percent more likely to be reading proficiently by eighth grade and 69 percent more likely to be proficient in math. And an impressive 98 percent of students whose parents obtained a college degree graduated from high school on time, compared to just 60 percent of students whose parents lacked a high school diploma.
The results are similar when it comes to the pursuit of higher education. First-generation college students — those who are the first in their families to pursue a degree — are much less likely to complete their undergraduate studies than those whose parents attended college. In fact, these students make up more than a third of today's college population, and yet it's projected that just 27 percent will obtain their undergraduate degrees within four years.
First-gen students are statistically more likely to struggle with their college costs, and they lack the support of parents with firsthand college experience to guide them through the process. That's why it can be crucial for students to choose a college that supports their needs from every angle.
3. Your kids' overall health
Finally, researchers reveal that ties have even been identified between a parent's education level and their children's health. The Foundation of Child Development notes that children of parents — particularly mothers — with low educational attainment have been found to experience negative health outcomes, such as lower birth weight, higher rates of infant mortality, and increased chances of childhood obesity.
It's also been found that families of lower socioeconomic status experience decreased access to health insurance, as well as healthy lifestyle choices in general. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) explains that lower-income families often live in communities that present numerous challenges that affect their health.
Use your education to make a difference
As a parent, your kids are your motivation for most things. And that doesn't have to change when it comes to your education. By focusing on your efforts as a student parent, statistics suggest that your children will experience long-term benefits.
The multitude of ways a parent's education level affects the lives of their kids highlights the importance of making higher education accessible for students of all types. As an adult going back to college, you'll need to find a program that is as flexible as it is effective.
Learn more about what you should be looking for by reviewing our article "How to Find the Best Online Colleges for Working Adults."
For more helpful information, visit our Adult Student Resource Hub.
