Most of these single fathers maintain their own households, but more than half of those who have their own household have another adult living with them who can provide support. More than half of single fathers cared for only one child under the age of 18, but 11 percent cared for three or more children. But single fathers are less likely than single mothers to have been awarded child support, and they're less likely than single mothers to receive at least a portion of the payments owed. Generally, children are much better off economically if they live with both parents. It's even a lower figure if households are headed by single mothers.
Fathers are important as financial providers for the family.
But there are other qualities of fathers that are related to positive child development. Infants react to fathers differently than they do to mothers. They seem to be comforted and soothed when they're with their mothers, but they are excited and stimulated when they're around their fathers. Both of these reactions are important in helping the child's brain to develop normally. Infants' scores on some measures of mental and physical development are higher if a father has been actively involved in the first six months of the child's life.