A child crying in the supermarket, a teenager refusing to talk at the table, a couple disagreeing on bedtime rules. These situations occur in all families, regardless of their structure. Parenting is not just about education: it encompasses emotional bonds, daily choices, and the ability to adapt when everything changes.
Parenting and parental authority: what the law has changed recently
Have you ever heard the term “parental authority” without knowing exactly what it entails? In French law, it refers to the set of rights and duties of parents towards their minor child: protection, health, education, management of property.
In 2024, the legislator specified that parental authority is exercised without physical or psychological violence. The text also explicitly includes the child’s private life as a right to be respected. This is not a symbolic detail: it provides a legal framework for professionals who support families in difficulty.
Another concrete change: since September 1, 2025, in certain amicable separation procedures, the responsibility to inform the child falls on the parent. In clear terms, the parent must ensure that the child understands what is happening, depending on their age and maturity. For families facing separation, these new obligations change the way to prepare an amicable agreement.
Families going through these situations can find information on the Parents Ensemble website to better understand their rights and obligations in daily life.
Single-parent families: a reality affecting a quarter of households with children
The proportion of single-parent families has doubled since 1990, reaching about 24% of families in 2018, which is nearly 1.9 million single-parent families with at least one minor child. This figure, derived from public data, highlights how support systems must adapt to very diverse family realities.
Being a single parent means managing medical appointments, homework, meals, and childcare schedules alone. The issue is not just financial. It’s a matter of time and isolation.
What is changing concretely for solo parents
Family policies are beginning to take this reality into account. Several recent measures specifically target childcare and legal support for single-parent families. However, identifying available assistance remains a complex journey.
- Childcare assistance varies by municipality, department, and CAF, making it difficult for an already overwhelmed parent to navigate.
- UDAFs (departmental unions of family associations) offer listening and guidance services, often unknown to families who would benefit the most.
- Support groups for parents, online or in person, help break isolation and share practical solutions tested by others.
A solo parent who knows their rights saves time. A solo parent who is surrounded gains peace of mind.
Digital parenting: setting boundaries on screens without becoming a warden
Screens are the most frequent source of tension in households with children. Not because parents lack willpower, but because recommendations change faster than family habits.
Completely banning screens for a 10-year-old is unrealistic when their peers are communicating on messaging apps. Conversely, allowing unrestricted access without boundaries exposes them to inappropriate content and well-documented visual fatigue.
Three concrete guidelines for a family framework
Rather than a single rule, an effective framework is based on a few principles adaptable to the child’s age:
- Define screen-free times (meals, hour before bedtime) rather than a daily minute quota, which is easier for the whole family to adhere to.
- Watch together what the child is accessing, at least once a week, to open the discussion rather than monitoring in silence.
- Be willing to lead by example: a parent who puts their phone down at the table makes the rule credible.
Digital parenting cannot be resolved with a one-time parental control installation. It requires regular adjustments as the child grows and their usage evolves.
Support among parents: resources that truly make a difference
Public reports converge on one observation: there are numerous actions aimed at parents, but they remain poorly identified and poorly coordinated. The result is that many families miss out on programs intended for them.
The national strategy for supporting parenting aims to structure this offer. On the ground, it is often local associations, social centers, and parent networks that fill the gap between public policy and the daily lives of families.
Parenting and disability: an often-overlooked angle
Parents of children with disabilities face multiplied administrative procedures. The generalization of the after-school bonus since January 2024 and the deployment of CapParents services aim to reduce these obstacles. These measures are still poorly known to the families concerned.
Support works when it is accessible without complex procedures. A group of parents in a school, an identified listening line, a UDAF service with hours compatible with professional life: these simple points of contact make a difference.
Parenting does not have a universal manual. The families that fare best are not those that apply a perfect method. They are the ones who know how to ask for help at the right moment and find someone willing to respond.
