Module 3-Family

MODULE 3- The Family
FAMILY
Group of people who live together.
Two or more people who are related through
blood, marriage, adoption, or birth. (Duvall, 1977)
Two or more people who are emotionally
involved with each other and live together. (Freidman,
Bowden, & Jones, 2003). This definition includes
more of the different types of current family
structures in which family members may be unrelated
either biologically or legally.
Family structure - refers to the characteristics and demographics of individual members who
make up family units; more specifically, the structure of a family defines the roles and the
positions of family members
Family structure
The nuclear family is defined as a husband, wife, and their children—biological, adopted,
or both (Friedman, 1998)
The extended family consists of those members of the nuclear family and other blood-
related persons such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A blended or stepfamily occurs when a divorced, widowed, or never-married single
parent forms a household with a new partner; both partners or only one may have children.
Single parent family occurs by means of divorce, separation, death of a spouse, or choice.
90% of them are comprised of single mothers and their children.
Gay and lesbian families are increasing in numbers. Because homosexuality is
stigmatized in our society, many of these parents are not open about their sexual orientation.
Other Types
Childless Family (Dyadic Nuclear) – couple chooses not to
have children)
While most people think of family as including children,
there are couples who either cannot or choose not to have
children. The childless family is sometimes the "forgotten
family," as it does not meet the traditional standards set by
society. Childless families consist of a husband and wife
living and working together. Many childless families take on the responsibility of pet ownership
or have extensive contact with their nieces and nephews as a substitute for having their own
children.
Grandparent Family
Many grandparents today are raising their grandchildren
for a variety of reasons. One in twelve children is raised
by his grandparents, and the parents are not present in the
child's life. This could be due to parents' death, addiction,
abandonment or being unfit parents. Many grandparents
need to go back to work or find additional sources of
income to help raise their grandchildren.
Cohabitating Family
A cohabiting family is defined as two unrelated adults of the opposite sex who share a housing
unit, either with or without children. Therefore, many of the families that we think of as “single-
parent” actually consist of a single mother and her cohabiting partner (who may or may not be
the father of the child), and an estimated 13% of all children classified as living with “single
parents” actually reside with cohabiting parents (Manning & Lichter, 1996).
Roles and Functions of the Family

Roles can be:
Inherited –some roles are inherited-like daughter because you are a girl, sibling because
you are 2nd born
Assigned –parents can assign a role like babysitter to the oldest child
Chosen-some roles are chosen-like family cook
Functions of the Family

Procreation - the bearing of children
Parents have kids as an expression of their love for each other
They want to have someone carry on their heritage and traditions
The birth of children assure the continuation of society
Society and procreation

Children grow up and become adult that join the workforce
These young adults work and keep the economy going
They also have kids and the cycle repeats itself
Physical Care - Families provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and a safe
environment for its members.
Society helps the family with physical needs

Examples of help from society to the family are food stamps, public housing,
Medicare/Medicaid, and charitable programs like the YMCA or local missions like HAAM
3. Socialization
The family teaches its children to conform to social
standards. As parents socialize their children, they act as
authority figures in the home teaching limits and appropriate
behavior.
Education is also a part of socialization. Both moral
and intellectual education are important for children.
Society helps the family
As children grow and age, society provides educational resources: K-12 schools, colleges and
universities, vocational and technical schools, and apprenticeships.
Emotional Support
The most critical function of families in today’s
society is the emotional support of family members.
Parents provide and teach love, guidance, comfort,
reassurance and forgiveness.
Society and Emotional Support
There are many agencies and individuals that
provide information, care and support for family
members.
Churches often provide counseling, Engagement and Marriage Encounter seminars,
parenting classes
 Therapist, Counselors, and Mental Health specialists also provide emotional assistance
1. Economic Survival
 Production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services
 A family should be working members of society in order to be able to purchase
products/goods that are needed by the family
Stages and Developmental Tasks in the Family Life Cycle
Stage 1. Beginning Family: The married couple establish their home but do not yet have
children.
Developmental Tasks: Establishing a satisfying home and marriage relationship and
preparing for childbirth.
Stage 2. Childbearing Family: From the birth of the first child until that child is 2 1/2 years
old.
Developmental Tasks: Adjusting to increased family size; caring for an infant;
providing a positive developmental environment.
Stage 3. Family with Preschoolers: When the oldest child is between the ages of 2 1/2 and 6.
Developmental Tasks: Satisfying the needs and interests of preschool children; coping
with demands on energy and attention with less privacy at home.
Stage 4. Family with School Children: When the oldest child is between the ages of 6 and 13.
Developmental Tasks: Promoting educational achievement and fitting in with the
community of families with school-age children.
Stage 5. Family with Teenagers: When the oldest child is between the ages of 13 and 20.
Developmental Tasks: Allowing and helping children to become more independent;
coping with their independence; developing new interests beyond child care.
Stage 6. Launching Center: From the time the oldest child leaves the family for independent
adult life till the time the last child leaves.
Developmental Tasks: Releasing young adults and accepting new ways of relating to
them; maintaining a supportive home base; adapting to new living circumstances.
Stage 7. Empty Nest: From the time the children are gone till the marital couple retires from
employment.
Developmental Tasks: Renewing and redefining the marriage relationship;
maintaining ties with children and their families; preparing for retirement years.
Stage 8: Aging Family: From retirement till the death of the surviving marriage partner.
Developmental Tasks: Adjusting to retirement; coping with the death of the marriage partner
and life alone.
Family Health Task:
 Recognizing interruptions of health or development.
 Seeking health care.
 Managing health and non-health crises.
 Providing nursing care to sick, disabled, or dependent members of the family.
 Maintaining a home environment conducive to good health and personal development.
 Maintaining a reciprocal relationship with the community and its health institutions.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY FAMILY

Communicating
 This is the most important quality that must be developed. Get to know one another by
talking and listening. Learn to respond rather
than react. Use family meal time for
conversation between all members of the
family
Affirming and Supporting
 All family members must express appreciation
for and give praise to one another. Do not
pressure with unrealistic expectations.
Respecting Others
 Start with respect for self, then learn to respect
individual differences within the family. Learn to live with one another. (Respect is not the
same as approval.)
Trusting
 This must begin with parents who trust each other deeply. Give children opportunities to earn
trust, and let them learn to accept responsibility for their own behavior
Sharing Time
 Lack of time and energy is your family's worst enemy. Develop a sense of play and humor.
Learn to balance private time and collective leisure time. Prioritize your activities and make
time for one another.
Fostering Responsibility
 Exhibit a sense of shared responsibility. As children grow, gradually give them more
responsibility. This means more than doing chores, and does not necessarily mean orderliness
and perfection. The consequences of irresponsibility are valuable lessons.
Teaching Morals
 Parents need to teach clear and specific guidelines about right and wrong. Each family has
different values, but the parents should agree on values they consider important. Avoid
inconsistency between example and teaching.
Enjoying Traditions
 Family rituals and traditions give us a sense of stability and a sense of belonging.
Sharing Religion
 The potential for satisfying family relationships is far greater among religiously oriented
families than among those who do not share a faith. Worship together regularly. Pass on the
faith in positive and meaningful ways.
Respecting Privacy
 Respect the right to be alone, to be different, and to change. Have more mutually negotiated
rules as children mature.
Valuing Service
Serve others, whether inside or outside of your family. Be responsive to others' needs.
Keep volunteer time under control.
Getting Help
Even the best families have problems. Seek help in the early stages of a problem. Not all
problems can be solved within the family. When necessary, seek professional assistance

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Module 3-Family

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MODULE 3- The Family

Roles and Functions of the Family

Functions of the Family

Society and procreation

Society helps the family with physical needs

CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY FAMILY

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