© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.. 2 Families Today © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Key Terms nuclear family single-parent families joint custody extended

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.


2Families Today


Key Terms

• nuclear family• single-parent

families• joint custody• extended family• stepfamilies• adoption• adoption agency

• independent adoption

• illegal market adoption

• closed adoption• open adoption• foster families• guardian

continued


Key Terms

• family life cycle• nurturance• guidance• discipline• power assertion• love withdrawal• induction

• authoritarian• permissive• democratic• cultural diversity• multicultural

families


Did You Know?

• Family is the oldest known social group

• Families formed to ensure the well-being of children

• Family ideas about children’s needs have changed throughout history– also changed the roles of parents


Objective

• Describe changes affecting families today.


Changes Affecting Families Today

• Before the Industrial Revolution,– families lived in farming communities– families produced what they needed– families consisted of the immediate

family plus extended family members

continued


Changes Affecting Families Today

• During the Industrial Revolution,– families moved to cities, often

separated from one another– individuals earned a wage and

purchased what they needed– families shifted to

dependence on immediate family only


What Do You Think?

• As families moved to cities, they lost the proximity of extended family members.

• How do you think current technology helps families stay in contact across long distances?


Objective

• Explain the role of families in today’s society.


Changes in Family Roles

• Before the 1700s,– parents met the physical needs of

children– survival and character development

were key– children worked to help support the

family by four to seven years of age

continued


Changes in Family Roles

• In contemporary families,– childhood is seen as a special time– most children are not required to

contribute to the family income– loving care and support of children is

seen as necessary– community support is available to

parents


What Do You Think?

• Consider popular media such as magazines, television, the Internet, and feature movies.

• What are some examples of the representation of childhood in the media?


Objective

• List the main advantages and disadvantages of living in different types of families.


Family Types

• Nuclear families• Single-parent families• Extended families• Stepfamilies• Families with adopted children• Foster families• Guardians


Nuclear Families

• A father, a mother, and their biological child or children who live together form a nuclear family

• This type of family exists in most societies

continued


Nuclear Families

• Disadvantages– other relatives do not live in the home to

provide additional support• there is less exposure to other adults• children often lack opportunity to learn skills

from the older generation

– parents may not have a positive relationship

• children could be exposed to family stress

continued


Nuclear Families

• Advantages– family members can share

responsibilities to meet needs– children learn more flexible home and

child care roles– children see how spouses should relate

to each other


Single-Parent Families

• Single-parent families are headed by one adult

• The number of single-parent households is growing

continued



• Disadvantages– raising children alone is difficult– one parent often provides the bulk of

care for children– single parents may lack support

continued



• Advantages– the bond between children and single

parent is often strong– children of single parents are often more

independent– single parents may share parenting

duties through joint custody


Extended Families

• In the extended family, more than two generations of a family live together

• Common around the world

• Less common in the U.S. than in the past

continued


Extended Families

• Disadvantages– so many people living in one space can

cause stress– the needs of the group may outweigh

the needs of any one individual

continued


Extended Families

• Advantages– children learn to interact with people of

all ages– family history is more easily passed

from one generation to the next– more caregiving and support can be

provided within the family


Stepfamilies

• Stepfamilies are formed when a single parent marries another person

• Stepfamilies are common

continued


Stepfamilies

• Disadvantages– the instant relationships formed by a

stepfamily lead to the need for adjustments

– children must often manage two stepfamilies

continued


Stepfamilies

• Advantages– two-thirds of stepfamilies have good

relationships– stepparents can also be good parents


Families with Adopted Children

• Adoption occurs when a child of one pair of parents legally becomes the child of another parent or parents

• Adoption legally ends the rights and responsibilities between a child and the birthparents


Adoption Agencies and Independent Adoptions

• An adoption agency is licensed by the state to handle adoptions– may be state funded or private

• In an independent adoption, a lawyer or physician works out the details between the birthparents and the adoptive parents– all independent adoptions must follow

state law


Adoption Options and Rights

• The laws of each state govern adoption options and rights

• In all states, it is illegal to buy or sell a child for adoption (illegal market adoption)

continued



• In a closed adoption, the identity of birthparents and adopting family are not revealed– also called confidential adoptions– fewer closed adoptions occur today

• Open adoptions involve some degree of communication between birthparents and adoptive family

continued



• The openness of the adoption refers to the information exchanged between birthparents and adoptive family

• Open adoptions are now more common

• All records are generally accessible to adoptive children upon adulthood

continued



• Adoption rights protect those involved in the process

• In most states, birthfather has legal rights

• State laws may permit birthfather to deny paternity


Adoption Issues

• Disadvantages– adoptive parents may have to transition

to parenthood very quickly– problems can arise in the relationship

with the birthparents– children may have questions about the

adoption that are difficult to address

continued


Adoption Issues

• Advantages– children who are adopted generally have

stable, happy home lives– most adoptive parents create a loving

family that helps adopted children overcome any stress they may feel


Foster Families

• Foster families are families in which adults provide temporary homes for children who cannot live with their birthparents

continued


Foster Families

• Children often enter foster families because of problems in their birthfamilies

• Every foster situation is unique• Foster families may have one or two

parents• Foster families may include other

biological, adoptive, or foster children

continued


Foster Families

• Disadvantages– foster children may be separated from

siblings– children may need counseling for

problems they faced in their birthfamilies

– children may miss their birthfamilies

continued


Foster Families

• Advantages– foster families can offer a stable, secure

home for children– the goal is to reunite children with their

birthfamilies if possible


Guardians

• A guardian is often chosen by the biological parents to take responsibility for a child in the event of the birthparents’ death or extended absence

continued


Guardians

• Guardians are generally someone close to the family

• A child remains with a guardian until the child becomes a legal adult or the relationship is legally terminated


What Do You Think?

• Describe your idea of the typical family.

• How has the typical family changed throughout history?

• How have those changes affected children and parents?


Objective

• Explain changes that take place during the family life cycle.


The Family Life Cycle

• Families change through the years• Most families change in similar stages

that are called the family life cycle– beginning stage– childbearing stage– parenting stage– launching stage– mid-years stage– aging stage


Beginning Stage

• A couple marries and get to know each other

• This stage lasts until a child is born


Childbearing Stage

• The couple starts having children• This stage lasts until birth of last child


Parenting Stage

• The couple focuses on guiding children through the school-age and teen years

• This stage lasts until children start to leave home


Launching Stage

• The couple’s children begin leaving home to live on their own

• This stage ends when all children have left home


Mid-Years Stage

• The couple focuses on their marriage, planning their future, and becoming grandparents

• This stage lasts until the couple retires


Aging Stage

• The couple retires and adjusts to this change in lifestyle

• This stage lasts throughout life


What Do You Think?

• Did your family of origin follow the stages of the family life cycle as outlined in the text?

• Do you find the stages relevant to all family types?


Objective

• Describe the major roles of parents.


Roles of Parents

• Socialization• Nurturance• Guidance and discipline


Socialization

• Socialization is the training children receive to help them learn to live in a group

• Each culture has its own rules; children must be taught these rules

• Parents are the people most responsible for socializing children


Nurturance

• Nurturance includes the physical aspects of child care, such as feeding, dressing, and bathing children


Guidance and Discipline

• Guidance includes the words and actions parents use to influence their child’s behavior

• Discipline is the use of methods and techniques to teach children self-control– discipline is part of guidance


Types of Discipline

• Power assertion occurs when parents use or threaten physical punishment (also called corporal punishment) or deny privileges

• In love withdrawal, parents threaten children or suggest some form of parent/child separation

• Induction occurs when parents discipline by reasoning and explaining


Objective

• Define three parenting styles.


Parenting Styles

• In the authoritarian parenting style, the main objective is to make children completely obedient

• Permissive parents give children almost no guidelines or rules

• When using the democratic (authoritative) style, parents set some rules, but allow children some freedom


What Would You Do?

• Imagine that a parent of twin two-year-old boys asked your advice on discipline

How would you describe each of the

three parenting styles, including the pros and cons and examples of each?


Objective

• List characteristics of healthy families.


Characteristics of Healthy Families

• Spouses marry with shared values– values are used to select goals

• All members of a family are individuals• A mutual commitment is crucial• Each member depends on the others• Healthy families communicate• Members support one another’s efforts


What Do You Think?

• What are some examples of individuality within a healthy family?

• How can a family share goals while still respecting the individuality of its members?


Objective

• Describe ways that culture influences the family.


Cultural Influences on Families

• The U.S. is a nation with great cultural diversity– culture affects each family differently

continued



• Families define their culture– families often identify their culture in

terms of their origin, ancestors, or region of origin

– families may identify themselves through their country of origin

– language may also be used as an identifier

continued



• The role of family varies by culture – family can include only the immediate

family or the extended family as well– in cultures with a group orientation,

family is most important– in cultures with an individual orientation,

the focus is on each person more than on the family as a group


What Do You Think?

• Do you think institutions in the U.S. such as public schools or social service agencies operate more under a group orientation or an individual orientation?

• How could society be more supportive of both forms of family orientation?


Multicultural Families

• In multicultural families, two or more cultural groups are represented

• Everyone in a multicultural family needs to learn about the culture of its members

continued


Multicultural Families

• Strength in multicultural families– parents have strong cultural identities– family talks about cultural issues– parents and children show equal respect

for each culture– all cultures are celebrated


What Would You Do?

• Imagine that American parents from a European country of origin wish to adopt a child from Malaysia

What advice would you give the parents? Devise some specific strategies that could be used to help the child learn about his or her culture.



• adoption. Process by which a child of one pair of parents legally becomes the child of other parents (or parent).

• adoption agency. State-funded or private agency licensed by the state to handle adoptions.

• authoritarian. Parenting style in which the main objective is to make children completely obedient.

Glossary of Key Terms


• closed adoption. Adoption in which the identity of the birthparents and adopting family are not revealed.

• cultural diversity. Having more than one culture represented.

• democratic. Parenting style in which parents set some rules, but allow children some freedom; also called authoritative.



• discipline. Use of methods and techniques to teach children self-control.

• extended family. Family in which several generations live together.

• family life cycle. Series of six stages that many families go through over the years.

• foster families. Families in which adults provide temporary homes for children who cannot live with their birthparents.



• guardian. Person often chosen by a child’s biological parents to take responsibility for the child in the event of the birthparents’ death or extended absence.

• guidance. Words and actions parents use to influence their children’s behavior.



• illegal market adoption. Adoption in which a child is bought or sold. This is against the law in all states.

• independent adoption. Adoption in which a person, such as a lawyer or physician, works out the details between the birthparents and adoptive parents.

• induction. Technique in which parents discipline by reasoning and explaining.



• joint custody. Term used to describe the shared legal right of parents who are not married to provide care and make decisions about their children’s lives.

• love withdrawal. Discipline techniques in which parents threaten children with being unloved or suggest some form of parent/child separation.



• multicultural families. Families with members from two or more cultural groups.

• nuclear family. Family consisting of a father, a mother, and their biological child or children who live together.

• nurturance. Providing all aspects of care for a child, which includes meeting physical, mental, and social-emotional needs.



• open adoption. Adoption that involves some degree of communication between the birthparent(s) and adoptive family.

• permissive. Parenting style in which parents give children almost no guidelines or rules.

• power assertion. Discipline technique in which parents use or threaten to use some form of physical punishment.



• single-parent families. Families headed by one adult.

• stepfamilies. Families formed when a single parent marries another person.


Documents

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.. 2 Families Today © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Key Terms nuclear family single-parent families joint custody extended