Tackling the child care challenge
November 9, 2011
One of the biggest challenges single parents who want to go to college face is child care. After all, as any mother can attest, being a parent is a 24/7 commitment, 365 days per year. Add in the time needed to attend classes and study and the prospect of creating a better life for your family can seem overwhelming.
While many single parents make their dream of pursuing a college education a reality by taking online classes, there are many others who are required to physically be in a classroom. For these people, scheduling classes when their children are in school is often helpful. Others choose to take classes at night or on the weekends, when family members or friends can pitch in to help with child care duties for free.
An organization in Pittsburgh offers help for single parent students who are struggling with child care issues. Angel's Place offers free child care for single mothers and fathers pursuing their education. In addition to babysitting, parents who use the program are entitled to free tutoring, support groups, counseling and classes in parenting, nutrition, child safety and life skills.
While organizations like Angel's Place help with ensuring little ones are cared for when you're not around, many single parents who want to go to college also say financing their education is a challenge. Luckily, there are many different college scholarships and federal and state grants for single parents who want to make a better life for themselves and their children.
