the role of families. why study families terms to know: adoptive families, blended families,...
TRANSCRIPT
Why Study Families
Terms to Know: adoptive families, blended families, extended families, foster families, nuclear families, nurture, sibling
What makes a family? (write down your own answer) By learning about families, we will understand the
influence families have and how you can contribute to your family
Cont.
Extended Family: parents, children, and other family members – Example: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins,
etc.
Cont.
Adoptive families: one or more children not born into a family but made a permanent member by law
Cont.
Foster families: a couple or individual assumes temporary responsibility for the care of a child
Trends Affecting Families
Birth rate: Number of children has decreased Women in the workforce: more women working,
spend less time at home Increasing lifespan: 1900-men 47, women 49
1994-men 73, women 80 Mobility: change residence often Divorce: very common; over half of marriages today
will end in divorce; more people not remarrying
Functions of Families
Meet physical needs: food, clothing, shelter, and health care
Promote emotional growth: showing love and acceptance, emotional refuge, expressing emotions
Shape social development: teach how to behave towards others, basic social skills (mainly through example, not directly), preserving culture and heritage
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Aiding intellectual development: parents and siblings are first teachers, teaching thinking skills and encouraging creativity/imagination
Guiding moral growth: teaching a code of conduct and a set of values
Total picture: difficult for families to provide for all a person’s needs
Your Role in the Family
Because of the large impact families have on individuals, important to have a nurturing and strong family
Teens can be role models for young siblings and provide support for other members in the family
What Creates Strength
Respect– Each other’s behaviors, abilities, needs, and
opinions, even when not shared– Don’t make members more or less worthy of
others– Appreciate and value differences– Example: ask permission, knock on closed doors
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Trust– Closeness is built on trust– Count on each other for help and support– Responsibilities show your parents trust you
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Emotional Support– Words and actions that reassure others and share
positive feelings– Ways to show support:
“you did a great job” Give a hug for no reason Doing a task without being asked
Sharing
One of the 1st lessons learned as a child Working towards a common goal helps bind
family members together Traditions Spending time together
Finding Time for Families
Strategies for managing time: – Set priorities– Allow for variations– Be realistic about what can be done– Seek and give cooperation with other family
members– Learn to manage stress– Plan together how time will be spent
Support Systems
Network of groups and individuals that a family can turn to for help
Help families to accomplish family goals A lot of times, support systems include
extended family like grandparents or aunts and uncles
Neighbors, community, or professional services
Family Life Cycle
General pattern to describe how families grow 5 steps:
– Beginning stage: couple establish a home– Parental stage: become parents and raise their children– Launching stage: children leave home to start a new life for
themselves– Middle age stage: after children have left, parents now have
time for themselves– Retirement stage: more freedom for travel and leisure
activities
Changes Families Make
New family members– Most common change– Usually a happy event– Could be a new baby, a relative, or adoption
Moving
Very significant change A lot of adjusting required by all Steps to make it easier:
– Learn as much as possible about new place– Talk with others that have moved– Join clubs to meet new people– Join church or community group– Have a positive attitude
Remarriage and Blending
Families merging together Feelings of resentment, confusion, anger Tips for blending families:
– May not like it, but try and find a way to make it work– Work out new ways to manage time and space– Review rules– Get to know new members– Some difficult moments, not always wonderful experience
Death
Traumatic event Recovery may be slow Suggestions for coping:
– Take responsibility for things you can do– Participate in events that help you accept the
reality of the event– Spend time with young members of the family– Death due to illness – learn about disease