With Single Parents’ Day coming up on March 21st, EliteSingles’ research team set out to explore Canadian opinions towards single parenthood and dating.
- 90% of Canadian singles have no qualms dating someone with kids
- 77% of single moms whose children are under 18 say they’d only date someone their kids approved of. Only 67% of single dads in the same situation agree.
- 33% of parents with adult children want their kids’ approval when it comes to dating
- Single moms are more likely than single dads to seek their children’s dating advice
Reassuringly for single moms and dads, our study of 600 Canadians revealed that 90% of respondents would have no qualms about dating someone with children, challenging the misconception that the dating scene doesn’t accommodate single parents. What’s more, 70% of singles agreed that having a positive relationship with a partner’s children makes them love their partner more.
77% of single moms, 67% of dads want their kids’ approval before dating someone
If you’re the one dating a single parent, be ready to put some effort into impressing their kids – 73% of parents with children younger than 18 would want their seal of approval before getting deeply involved with a partner. Parents with grown-up children aren’t as rigid: just 33% want their children’s approval, while 67% agree with the statement ”it’s none of my children’s business who I date.”
On the whole, though, it’s single moms who are much more influenced by their children’s opinion, with 77% of those who parent under-18s saying they wouldn’t date someone unless their children liked them. 67% of men surveyed shared the same attitude.
91% of single parents say it’s vital that their kids and their new partner do bonding activities
The research also reveals that the majority of single parents (81%) would wait until in a serious partnership to introduce their kids to their new partner. Once introduced though, the bonding begins: a huge 91% of Canadians said that doing family activities with a partner’s children and their own plays a crucial part in building a stronger relationship.
Single moms are more likely than single dads to seek their child’s dating advice
Having (adult) children on the scene can also be useful in deciding who to date in the first place. 37% of singles with kids over 18 say that they show their children a potential partner’s online profile before deciding to message them.
Single moms are more likely than single dads to want practical dating help: when writing an online dating profile, 18% of moms would want their child’s advice (compared with just 10% of dads), while 30% of single mothers and 21% of single fathers would ask their kids for general first date advice like what to wear and where to go.
For more on this study, including insights from our in-house psychologist Salama Marine, please see our in-depth article
Press contact: Sophie Watson
EliteSingles Research Team
About the author: The EliteSingles Press Team
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