Your Family Your Cultural Heritage Types of Families Functions of the Family Family Life Styles Family Roles & Responsibilities Family Life Cycle Families Face Change Family Relationships
Your Family
Your Cultural Heritage
Types of Families
Functions of the Family
Family Life Styles
Family Roles & Responsibilities
Family Life Cycle
Families Face Change
Family Relationships
What is a Family?
Everyone take a moment to draw a picture of your family.
Be sure to label the picture. I know your not artists but be creative
What is a Family?
Family: a group of people who are related to each other.
U.S. Census Bureau definition of a family:– A group of two or more persons who are related by
blood, marriage, or adoption and who are residing together.
Family members may be related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
Foster Children: temporarily placed in homes by the court system. The family members become a foster family.
What is a Family?
Come in many sizes and combinations– Can you tell me different types of combinations?
Combinations:– Single Parent- Two Parent– Grandparents -Other relatives
Your family has a big influence on shaping your personality.
Family influences your values and behaviors.
Cultural Heritage
Cultural Heritage: is made up of learned behaviors, beliefs, and languages that are passed from one generation to another.– What are some traditions your family has?
Ethnic Groups: groups of people who share common cultural and/or racial characteristics such as language, traditions, religion, and national origin.– These groups help to preserve the cultural
heritage of a family.
Types of Families
There are many different types of families.
The family members who form the group determine the family type.
Most common types:– Nuclear - Single Parent– Extended - Stepfamilies
The Nuclear Family Formed when a couple marries
– If couple has no children at the time -Usually have two generations. Two parents,
one male and one female, and a child or children. The child could be their biological child, an adopted child, foster child, or a combination. Most represented in TV and movies.
Members depend greatly on each other because relatives are not real close.– This can draw the nuclear family closer together
The Single Parent Family
Includes one parent and one or more children– Can be either father or mother– Child could be adopted
Parent could be divorced, widowed, separated, or never married.
Single parent plays the role of both mother and father
Stepfamily
Occurs when a single parent marries Stepparent: person who marries the
single mother or father– Not related by blood but may legally adopt
Extended Family There are other relatives in the household other
than the parents and children. Most commonly the grandparents are in the
extended family, but could include aunts, uncles, or cousins
Less common today Relatives can offer guidance, support, babysitting,
share chores Grandparents can benefit from it also
– Living expenses are reduced, enjoy companionship, feel secure
Extended Family
Sometimes the occur when single parents move back into their parents’ home with their children.
Single parents may need time to find a place to live or may not have enough money to live on their own
Functions of the Family
A family unit, in some form, is found in every country in the world, but what makes it up varies.
In some countries:– A man may have more than one wife– Several families may live together
However, all families perform similar functions
Functions of the Family
Main Function:– Provide for the physical needs of a family
• Food, clothing & shelter• This usually means that a job is necessary
Socialization function:– Children are taught the ways and customs
of the society in which they live• Acceptable forms of behavior• Appropriate ways to behave
Functions of the Family
Emotional well-being– All people need to feel loved and accepted– Need to feel that they belong somewhere– Family provides security of having
someone to turn to– Emotional support is best provided by the
members of a family
Functional Families
Every family faces problems Strong functional families can solve problems
together– Do this through communication and respect
Each member contributes by fulfilling their roles and responsibilities
Help each other build positive self-concepts
Family and Community Strong families help make strong communities Children raised in a loving family are more likely
to become caring adults Children who learn peaceful conflict resolution
will use those techniques to solve community problems
Family members who fight may not learn problem-solving skills
An abused child is more likely to continue the cycle of violence
Family Roles & Responsibilities
As a member of a family you have certain roles– Daughter, son, niece, nephew, aunt, etc
May be defined by the tasks you perform– Cook, launderer, shopper, etc
In each role you assume different responsibilities
Roles may be exchanged – Take turns washing dishes
Roles may change as you get older
The Family Life Cycle
Families change through the years Changes occur in stages
Beginning Stage: – Couple decides to marry– Establish a home & learn to get along– Time to pursue interests– Both may have jobs outside of the home
The Family Life Cycle
Expanding Stage:– Major change occurs when children come– Involves many adjustments – Couple assumes new roles as parents– Increased demands on time, energy,
finances, and freedom– Affects couple’s home, social & work life
The Family Life Cycle
Developing Stage:– First child begins school
• School activities and sports may alter the family’s schedule
• Clothing, school events & new social activities take time and money
– Child enters teen years• Teens spend more time away from home• Seek independence
The Family Life Cycle
Launching Stage:– First child leaves home
• Parents will have more space at home, more time & more freedom
– Last child leaves home• Parents may feel void in life• Must find new interests• Income may be the highest during this stage
The Family Life Cycle
Aging Stage:– Activities depend on health
• More care & money may be necessary
– May need special services• Transportation, meals, recreational services
Family Tree
Project: 50 points– Create a family tree including your
generation, your parents generation, and your grandparents generation.
– You may use photos – Must Include:
• Name• Age• Brief Description (how you see that
person, their role in the family)
Families Face Change
Families Move– The average family moves every 7 years– Have to get use to new surroundings– Make new friends– Attend new schools– Takes time to adjust
Families Face Change
Family Structures Change– Nuclear family can become an extended
family or single parent family– Requires a lot of adjustments– Remarriage creates new family members
Families Face Change
Family Members Change– People change– Some changes can’t be avoided
• Serious illness or accidents
– Roles and Responsibilities of individuals change
– Sickness may be temporary change– Death or disability is permanent
Families Face Change
Change can be occurred by or can occur:– Substance abuse: misusing drugs,
alcohol, or some other chemical to a potentially harmful level
– Domestic Violence: physical abuse of a family member
Families Face Change Coping With Change
– Accept the change• Ignoring it will not make it go away• Accepting it will be less stressful• Communicate with family & share ideas
– Prepare for the change• Can you do something to get ready?• Makes the actual change easier
– Support the change• Keep a positive attitude• Most changes are not by choice
Families Face Change
Technology is the use of scientific knowledge to improve quality of life
What are some ways technology has improved your quality of life?
Family Relationships
Relationship– Special bond or link between people– The first relationship most people have is
with their parents
Relationship with Parents
May be strained during the teen years A lot of change is occurring Can be a difficult time for both you &
your parents Relations can become strained Parents are afraid you might make a
mistake
Relationship with Parents
To reduce strain:– Share your concerns– Show that you care– Show that you are responsible– Show that you can be trusted
Parents Just Don’t Understand
Sibling Relationships
Sibling rivalry:– Competition between brothers and sisters– Siblings try to compete with each other
Good relations can be reached by:– Listening– Trying to understand moods & feelings– Share thoughts & concerns– Keep communication open
Sibling Relationships
Respect the property and possessions of your siblings– Ask before borrowing
Cooperation:– Everyone works together and does their
share– Help each other out – makes life easier
Relationships with Grandparents
Grandparents may live far away or close
Some work full-time & some are retired Some may be healthy & some not Time spent with grandparents can be
very enjoyable May be easier to talk to grandparents
than parents
Relationships with Grandparents
As your grandparents age, it is important to help them out
Your relationship with your grandparents will remain strong as you share your time with them
Your care will help them stay alert & happy for many years
Family
I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich. ~Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, M*A*S*H
Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown
In time of test, family is best. ~Burmese Proverb