FAMILY FAMILY CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS

““Call it a clan, call it a network, Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. call it a tribe, call it a family.

Whatever you call it, whoever you Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”are, you need one.”

DiscussionDiscussion

• Where do our images of Where do our images of what family iswhat family is and and different family patternsdifferent family patterns come from? come from?

• In what ways do media (TV, movies, celebrities) In what ways do media (TV, movies, celebrities) reflect the image of families/family patterns?reflect the image of families/family patterns?

• What similarities/differences do you notice based What similarities/differences do you notice based on reality?on reality?

• What does this mean in relation to families, What does this mean in relation to families, – ““The grass is always greener on the other side of the The grass is always greener on the other side of the

fence.?”fence.?”

Recognizing Family Recognizing Family PatternsPatterns

Chapter 3 sec 1 pg. 67-70Chapter 3 sec 1 pg. 67-70

Chart DirectionsChart Directions::•Define each family pattern.Define each family pattern.•Identify advantages and Identify advantages and disadvantages of each family disadvantages of each family pattern. pattern.

SINGLE PEOPLESINGLE PEOPLElive alone or with a roommatelive alone or with a roommate

– Advantages Advantages • FreedomFreedom• IndependenceIndependence• Career orientedCareer oriented• Self interestsSelf interests• More PrivacyMore Privacy• No ChildrenNo Children• Less of a costLess of a cost

– DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Can be lonelyCan be lonely• Lack of moneyLack of money• Children Children

COUPLES COUPLES two people with NO childrentwo people with NO children

married/unmarried/cohabitatingmarried/unmarried/cohabitating

– AdvantagesAdvantages• More focus on More focus on

each othereach other• 2 incomes2 incomes• PrivacyPrivacy• Shared interestsShared interests• Shared Shared

decisions decisions

– DisadvantagesDisadvantages • Career conflictCareer conflict• Decision making Decision making

(who)(who)• Different levels Different levels

of commitment of commitment • MoneyMoney

NUCLEAR FAMILIESNUCLEAR FAMILIESMother, Father and biological childrenMother, Father and biological children

– AdvantagesAdvantages• More people More people

contribute to contribute to the needs of the the needs of the familyfamily

• Shared Shared responsibilities responsibilities

• 2 parents 2 parents • Bonding Bonding

between between siblingssiblings

– DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Cost Cost • Battle for Battle for

attentionattention• TimeTime

SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIESSINGLE-PARENT FAMILIESOne Parent and ChildrenOne Parent and Children

– AdvantagesAdvantages• One person in One person in

chargecharge• Stronger bond Stronger bond

between parent between parent and childand child

• More quality More quality timetime

– DisadvantagesDisadvantages • Time Time • EnergyEnergy• Must take on all Must take on all

responsibilities responsibilities • Money Money

BLENDED FAMILIES BLENDED FAMILIES (Step (Step Families)Families)

Husband, Wife, Children from previous Husband, Wife, Children from previous relationshipsrelationships

– AdvantagesAdvantages• New siblings New siblings • Happy parentsHappy parents• New parentNew parent• New homeNew home

– DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Different Different

parenting styles parenting styles • The advantages The advantages

can also be can also be disadvantagesdisadvantages

• ““Step” = evilStep” = evil

EXTENDED FAMILIESEXTENDED FAMILIESParents, Children and RelativesParents, Children and Relatives

– AdvantagesAdvantages• Important Important

resourcesresources• Support systemSupport system• Learn fromLearn from• TraditionsTraditions

– DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Different Different

personality typespersonality types• MoneyMoney• Different Different

parenting styles parenting styles • Set in ways Set in ways

ADOPTIVE FAMILIESADOPTIVE FAMILIESParents with children that are not Parents with children that are not

biologically linkedbiologically linked

– AdvantagesAdvantages• Planned Planned

parenthoodparenthood• Loving, safe, Loving, safe,

secure home secure home and parents and parents

– DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Legal processLegal process• CostCost• TimeTime• AdjustmentAdjustment• History History

LEGAL GUARDIANSLEGAL GUARDIANS

• A relative or close friend of the A relative or close friend of the familyfamily– Appointed to take care of children Appointed to take care of children

if parents were to die or can no if parents were to die or can no longer take care of children. longer take care of children.

FOSTER FAMILIESFOSTER FAMILIESFoster parents take care of foster Foster parents take care of foster

children on a temporary basischildren on a temporary basis

– AdvantagesAdvantages• Parents can be a Parents can be a

positive influencepositive influence• DiversityDiversity• Placed in a Home Placed in a Home

rather than a rather than a government government institutioninstitution

• Parents are Parents are licensed by the licensed by the state state

– DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Cost Cost • Time Time • SpaceSpace• Can be a lot of Can be a lot of

children children • AttachmentAttachment• TemporaryTemporary

MANY VARIATIONSMANY VARIATIONS

• Families are varied as the people Families are varied as the people who live in them.who live in them.

• It is not the FORM of Family that It is not the FORM of Family that matters but…matters but…– Within the family, people gain the Within the family, people gain the skillsskills, , strengthstrength, and , and knowledgeknowledge that that enable them to cope with enable them to cope with advantages and disadvantages and advantages and disadvantages and build new families. build new families.

REVIEWING FAMILY REVIEWING FAMILY PATTERNSPATTERNS

Chapter 3 sec 1 worksheetChapter 3 sec 1 worksheet

FAMILY PATTERNS PROJECTFAMILY PATTERNS PROJECT

• Pick ONE of the Family Patterns and Pick ONE of the Family Patterns and create that FAMILY using magazine create that FAMILY using magazine cut outs and pasting them on poster cut outs and pasting them on poster board.board.

• Individual or ONE partnerIndividual or ONE partner• Poster board must include:Poster board must include:

– Title (name of Family Pattern)Title (name of Family Pattern)– Definition of Family PatternDefinition of Family Pattern– Pictures (5-10 people/sets) Pictures (5-10 people/sets)

• LabeledLabeled– 5 Advantages5 Advantages– 5 Disadvantages5 Disadvantages

FAMILY FAMILY PERSONALITYPERSONALITY

Chapter 3 sec 2Chapter 3 sec 2

All the characteristics that combine to All the characteristics that combine to make a family unique give the family a make a family unique give the family a

personality.personality.

FAMILY PERSONALITY FAMILY PERSONALITY CONSISTS OF…CONSISTS OF…

• The atmosphere in the homeThe atmosphere in the home

• The way the family makes The way the family makes decisionsdecisions

• How members relate to each otherHow members relate to each other

• The family’s values and goalsThe family’s values and goals

DIFFERENT FAMILY DIFFERENT FAMILY ATMOSPHERESATMOSPHERES

• The feelings and attitudes The feelings and attitudes – Relaxed and organizedRelaxed and organized– Casual and friendly Casual and friendly – Formal and distant Formal and distant – Loud and displays affectionLoud and displays affection– Quiet and doesn’t show much affectionQuiet and doesn’t show much affection

• The atmosphere should allow people The atmosphere should allow people to make the best of themselves and to make the best of themselves and each other.each other.

FAMILY DECISION MAKINGFAMILY DECISION MAKING

• Autocratic StyleAutocratic Style: responsibility for : responsibility for major decisions is in ONE person’s major decisions is in ONE person’s hands.hands.– Decisions about spending money, routines Decisions about spending money, routines

within the household and other activitieswithin the household and other activities

• Democratic StyleDemocratic Style: decisions are made : decisions are made by more than one person (shared by more than one person (shared responsibility)responsibility)– Abilities are taken into consideration when Abilities are taken into consideration when

deciding who will take care of whatdeciding who will take care of what

HOW MEMBERS RELATE TO HOW MEMBERS RELATE TO EACH OTHEREACH OTHER

• InterdependenceInterdependence: a feeling of mutual : a feeling of mutual reliancereliance

• IndependentIndependent: Little reliance, do it : Little reliance, do it yourselfyourself

• DependentDependent: rely too heavily on others: rely too heavily on others

• Need a good balance between Need a good balance between independence and dependenceindependence and dependence

FAMILY GOALSFAMILY GOALS

• GoalGoal: something you plan to be, : something you plan to be, do or have and are willing to work do or have and are willing to work for it.for it.

• Based on the values and needs of Based on the values and needs of every family memberevery family member

• May be simple or complexMay be simple or complex

– Buying a house, volunteering, save Buying a house, volunteering, save for a trip, save for educationfor a trip, save for education

““A family is like a puzzle with A family is like a puzzle with hundreds of pieces. So many hundreds of pieces. So many

different factors come together different factors come together to make the whole. Each person to make the whole. Each person brings a special personality to brings a special personality to

the group. The combination the group. The combination creates a unique result. Family creates a unique result. Family personalities are as interesting personalities are as interesting

as they are complex.”as they are complex.”

ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES• Family Personality Case Study HandoutFamily Personality Case Study Handout

• Each family has a unique personality.Each family has a unique personality.

• Writing ActivityWriting Activity: Think about your family’s : Think about your family’s personality. personality. – Describe the following…Describe the following…

• The atmosphere in the homeThe atmosphere in the home• The way your family makes decisionsThe way your family makes decisions• How members relate to each otherHow members relate to each other• Your family’s values and goals.Your family’s values and goals.

– 1 page 1 page

• Family MottoFamily Motto

STAGES OF FAMILY STAGES OF FAMILY DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

Chapter 3 sec 3Chapter 3 sec 3

The Family Life Cycle The Family Life Cycle

THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLETHE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE

• A basic pattern of family A basic pattern of family development that follows development that follows predictable stagespredictable stages

• Four stages Four stages

1. STARTING AS A 1. STARTING AS A COUPLECOUPLE

• Learn to think and act as a teamLearn to think and act as a team• Daily routines involve 2 peopleDaily routines involve 2 people• Learn to rely on each other Learn to rely on each other • Building “skills”Building “skills”• Making decisions together Making decisions together

– HousingHousing– FurnishingFurnishing– Education/careersEducation/careers– MoneyMoney– ChildrenChildren

2. THE PARENTAL STAGE2. THE PARENTAL STAGE

• The Expanding YearsThe Expanding Years– New members are New members are

addedadded– Children are smallChildren are small– Focus on home and Focus on home and

family lifefamily life– Children require time Children require time

and attentionand attention– Leisure activities Leisure activities

decreasedecrease– Less “couple” timeLess “couple” time– Heavy financial Heavy financial

obligationobligation

• The Developing YearsThe Developing Years– Children grow olderChildren grow older– Enter into schoolEnter into school– More activities focus More activities focus

outside the home outside the home (busy)(busy)

– Teens learn Teens learn independent skillsindependent skills

– Time is limited Time is limited – Shared responsibilities Shared responsibilities

• LaunchingLaunching– The exit of children The exit of children

from the family homefrom the family home

3. THE MIDDLE YEARS3. THE MIDDLE YEARS

• The children have The children have grown up and left grown up and left homehome

• Parents becomes a Parents becomes a “couple” again “couple” again

• Empty nestEmpty nest leaves leaves parents feeling lost parents feeling lost and without purposeand without purpose

• New-found freedomNew-found freedom

• Becoming Becoming grandparentsgrandparents

• Time of questioningTime of questioning

• Income pressures Income pressures decrease or decrease or increaseincrease

4. THE RETIREMENT YEARS4. THE RETIREMENT YEARS

• Can be a time of travel, hobbies or Can be a time of travel, hobbies or relaxation relaxation

• Feelings of uselessnessFeelings of uselessness • Slowing downSlowing down

• Reflection on the pastReflection on the past

• Willing to share the wisdomWilling to share the wisdom

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION

• What stage is your family in?What stage is your family in?

• Can families be in more than one Can families be in more than one stage of the family life cycle at stage of the family life cycle at the same time?the same time?

• Which stage do you believe would Which stage do you believe would be most enjoyable and why?be most enjoyable and why?

ACTIVITYACTIVITY

• Family Life Cycle WorksheetFamily Life Cycle Worksheet

• Read each situation. Explain Read each situation. Explain which stage of the family life which stage of the family life cycle is being described.cycle is being described.

UNIT ONE: The Family UNIT ONE: The Family FoundationFoundation

• Review:Review:

• Test:Test: