SingleParent Connect

Inspiration

As a team of parents based in the US, we saw the isolation many single parents face—struggling to find peers with kids of similar ages, swap childcare, or access trusted professional advice. We wanted to build something accessible, no hoops (no logins!), just direct support for this underserved community.

What it does

SingleParent Connect is a free social support hub for US single parents. It matches users by their kids’ age and location, lets parents share parenting tips, swap childcare time, discover local/virtual events, and access expert Q&A on family law, finance, and mental health.

How we built it

We started with user research across US cities to map core needs, then built a mobile-first React frontend with TailwindCSS for responsiveness. We integrated Google Maps API for event location pins and FullCalendar for time-slot management, using Firebase to host demo content tailored to US time zones and regional needs.

Challenges we ran into

Aligning content with diverse US time zones for childcare swaps/events was tough—we had to build dynamic time conversion logic. We also struggled to balance broad accessibility (no logins) with relevant, location-specific matching, requiring iterative filter logic tweaks.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We created a fully responsive platform that centers real US single-parent needs—from age-specific matching to regionally relevant events. Every feature is designed for ease of use, with clear navigation and localized content that feels authentic to American single parents.

What we learned

We deepened our understanding of US single-parent challenges (geographic isolation, childcare gaps, limited access to pro advice) and how to build inclusive, login-free tools. We also mastered balancing dynamic data filtering with a seamless mobile experience for diverse US locations.

What's next for this project

We plan to add direct peer messaging, integrate external calendar tools, expand expert partnerships for more specialized Q&A, and roll out state-specific resources (e.g., local family law guides). We’ll also add user-generated event creation to empower community ownership.

Built With

• fullcalendar
• google-maps
• node.js
• tailwindcss