Troubling report his week from The National Center on Family Homelessness, which released a study that found 1 in 50 children in the U.S. were without a home. That’s about 1.5 million kids, according to the study. And the troubling thing is that the figures were compiled in 2005-2006 — before the current economic downturn that has more and more parents without jobs.

(Angela Gaul/The Journal News)

The study ranks New York 38th overall in a national review of states. The Empire state was 39th in child well being, 31st in risk of child homelessness, and 22nd in extent of child homelessness. It also classified New York’s policy and planning on the issue as inadequate.

It’s just a reminder that as more folks end up out of work, there’s a whole generation of kids tagging along.

Interesting stats out from the U.S. Census Bureau. In a nutshell, fewer families have children under 18 living at home. The number dropped to 46 percent last year, down from 57 percent in the ‘60s.

The reason, the bureau says, is because of lower fertility rates and the aging of Baby Boomers.

“Decreases in the percentage of families with their own child under 18 at home reflect the aging of the population and changing fertility patterns,” said Rose Kreider, family demographer at the U.S. Census Bureau.
“In 2008, not only were baby boomers old enough that most of their children were 18 and over, but they were having fewer kids than their parents, as well.”

Among the factors:

• Increases in longevity: The average numbers of years of life remaining at age 30 increased by about three years, comparing those 30 in 1960 with baby boomers who turned 30 in 1980 . As adults live longer, more married-couple households will be older and either childless or with adult children who live elsewhere.

• Increases in childlessness: The percentage of women 40 to 44 who were childless increased from 10 percent in 1976 to 20 percent in 2006.

So, society is getting older and having fewer kids at home. Or is there a deeper story behind the stats?

What are you Parents’ Place readers doing this summer? Vote in our poll in the right column of the page to share your plans.

We’re heading to Sesame Place next week in what Pumpkin is already expecting will be the time of her life. We’ve been looking at the brochure and she keeps touching the picture of the Big Bird’s Balloon Race and saying, “I’ll be BIG happy when I’m on there.” Let’s just hope Sesame Place lives up to expectations.

Raffi, the Canadian artist whose music has been beloved by parents and children since the 1970s, was the No. 1 vote-getter in our poll on children’s musicians. Raffi received 12 out of 45 votes, or 27 percent. Some people might think of Raffi as strictly an artist who appeals to the toddler and preschool set, but I have to admit that I love him, too. While many of his songs are silly and simple, there are also songs that are surprising complex and sweetly touching — even to a jaded adult.

The No. 2 pick was tween-set sensation Miley Cyrus (11 votes; 24 percent). The write-in choice that argued “children can share adult artists, too” received eight votes, or 18 percent. Laurie Berkner (7 votes; 16 percent), Pete Seeger (3 votes; 7 percent), They Might Be Giants (2 votes; 4 percent) and John Farrell (2 votes; 4 percent) rounded out the results.

Thanks for voting!