In the modern society, social, demographic and politico-economic trends are affecting the conditions of America’s children. We need to improve policies for the 21^st century. According to the article "Growing Up in America-An Atlas of Youth in the U.S.A", children are the best indication of a country’s standard of living is its youth, but the percentage of persons under the age of 18 in the U.S. in 1995 was closest to 25% of the population. American economic growth began to slow down by global and national trends and these trends are affecting the lives of American children. There are three trends are particularly noteworthy.

The first trend is demographic as illustrated by the rapid growth of the elderly as a percentage of the US population. According to the charts and the article, the population percentage of elderly will surpass the population percentage of under age 18 by the baby boom generation and the increase of life expectancies and decrease of birth. This trend will affect the conditions of America’s children because more benefits will most likely entitle for the elderly instead of benefits to the children.

The second trend is "fiscal conservatism". Programs are established by the US government in the 1960s and 1970s to ensure that children were adequately maintained helped families meet basic needs, and provided broader support. In 1981, President Reagan signed into law the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which transferred the responsibility for childcare maintenance from federal to local governments and private sector. According to President Reagan, private industry should get more involved in childcare programs. This act will affect the lives of American children because the federal government makes a withdrawal on the commitment to providing opportunities for children and their families. In addition, it will affect the conditions of America’s children because the result of "fiscal conservatism" is fewer government programs to help families.

The third trend is single parent home. Because of the high divorce rate and increase of out of wedlock births, has placed more children in single-parent homes, and the percentage of single parent homes was increased. Children living in mother only families are especially poor. The government wishes to increase a sense of responsibility and family planning in welfare receivers by decreasing welfare benefits. This trend affecting youth concerned with the increased number of single parent homes which will affect the conditions of America’s children.

America’s social, demographic and politico-economic trends are affecting the conditions and lives of America’s children. A noticeably absent signature to the UN Convention on the Rights of the child is from the US. I think these trends are the major influences of the America’s children. I think the most important reform needed is to offer financial support and generous social insurance benefits to strengthen families with children. I think the US should reduce the rate of divorcement, transfer the responsibility of children maintenance back to the federal government and provide more benefits for children even though birth rate is decreasing.