Band 7+: In many countries, people decide to have children at a later age than in the past. Why? Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Opinions are divided on whether having children at a later age gets more advantages or disadvantages. The majority of young people are inclined to get parenthood until they have sufficient experience or become properous. In further discussion, I would prove that trending family planning of today’s generation is a positive tendency.

There are many reasons to explain this movement, but the principal factors include preparation for facilities and personal experience. With regard to the former, young people who are educated about modern knowledge and family planning often focus on their career and financial condition. They fully understand the effect of the situation on the children’s growth. Rigorous investments or a considerable amount of money is needed to look after a child thoughtfully. These investments consist of accommodation, nourishment, education, healthcare service, clothing and emotional caring. As for the latter, generations nowadays prioritize their passion, and they are still the amateur, lacking life experiences, especially caregiving skills or the patience for children. Pursuing their dreaming as well as self-improvement is a step of the process in which they have sufficient knowledge and preparation to begin parenthood. The mentioned factors partly explain the trend towards later childbearing.

Undoubtedly, there are both advantages and disadvantages to this approach. Firstly, giving birth to a child at an adult age means having more abilities to provide their child with a great upbringing. Besides, this careful, far-sighted and postponed parenthood decreases the influence on the environment or worldwide problems such as overpopulation. On the other hand, delaying parenthood might lead to health issues such as miscarriage, infertility, genetic disorders, and an increased risk of Down syndrome. However, these problems can be mitigated by medical methods related to diagnosis, egg storage, and intrauterine insemination, etc. For couples who are not strict about genetic factors, adoption is a meaningful option.

In conclusion, the fact that couples are having children at a later stage is due to monetary burdens along with the need for more adequate parenting preparation. In my opinion, this is a positive trend in spite of disadvantages, it ultimately offers individuals greater autonomy and flexibility in family planning, paving the way for more fulfilling and sustainable lifestyles.