Differences in children perceptions about real and ideal parental care when parents are married or separated

The main objective of the present study is to identify if the children whose parents live together perceive differences concerning parental care (both real and ideal) in relation to those whose parents are separated. Two hundred and thirteen children altogether, regularly enrolled at municipal schools of Florianópolis, Brasil aged 10-11 years old, and participated of the study. Two questionnaires, which contained closed questions, were used. The results indicate significant statistic differences between the perception children have of the real father in relation to the ideal father when the parents do not live together. In relation to the mother, there was less significant difference. The mother is predominantly closer to the ideal model than the father in both the cases (when parents are married or separated). In conclusion, it can be stated that children perceive the real father quite distant from the ideal one regarding care and interaction, mainly when parents are separated.