your family your cultural heritage types of families functions of the family family life styles...

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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 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


Family Structures Change– Nuclear family can become an extended

family or single parent family– Requires a lot of adjustments– Remarriage creates new family members


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


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


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

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