Abigail J. Carothers ECD 420 Family systems theory Abigail J. Carothers ECD 420

Family Systems Theory at a Glance Overview What is a Family System? Factors in Family Systems Boundaries Rules Roles Family Systems Theory Assessment Results Conclusion Evaluation Resources

Overview What is Family Systems Theory?

Family Systems Theory Families are groups of interrelated people Each family member is affected and affects other members of the family Children can learn: Their family’s way of communicating Their family’s way of behaving Children bring these characteristics with them to school & into life

Family Systems Include: Boundaries Rules Roles

Boundaries: Helps teachers understand how family makes decisions Families could value autonomy and independence Or, families might value togetherness and dependence

Rules: Traditions that families use to guide their interactions with one another They also tell families how to deal with people and traditions outside of their family Ex: boy refusing to help clean up because “women do the cleanup” in his household

Roles: Rules or responsibilities assigned to different members of the family Examples include Scapegoat: one person always is blamed Peacemaker Helper Savior

Roles continued: Families assign & encourage each other to follow these roles Roles are transferred into the classroom Ex: Peacemakers will often be mediators between conflicts that occur in the classroom

Family systems Assessment

Questions Do you value your child having independence? Do you value your child being dependent on the family structure? Do you consult your child’s other parent when creating boundaries for your child? Do you have a set of rules for your child? Does your child follow the rules you set? Do you consistently follow through with implementing these rules? Do you follow gender-specific roles in your household such as women do the cleaning? Do you assign roles or jobs in your family such as chores? Do you feel your child can be a peacemaker at home? Do you notice your child taking on other roles such as leader or follower?

Results: Questions 1-5 70% Answered YES 30% Answered YES

Results: Questions 6-10 6. 40% Answered YES 7. 20% Answered YES

What Do These Results Tell Us? They can help determine: Rules that parents expect their child to follow Roles that children play in their families & help determine the roles they will play in the classroom The boundaries parents have put in place & whether they value independence or dependence

Results Continued: 70% of parents stated that they value their child’s independence from the family structure 90% stated they have a set of rules for their child to follow However, only 50% said their children followed these rules on a semi-regular basis

Results Continued: Only 40% of parents asked to complete this assessment say they expect their child to follow these set rules 50% said they assign jobs such as chores for their children 20% said they expect their children to only participate in “gender specific” jobs

Conclusion: Using these forms of assessment tools helps: teachers gain a better understanding of the students in their class Understanding a child’s family system is crucial when implementing developmentally appropriate practice Knowing the standards each parent holds for their child can help one better understand how a child best is disciplined and learns Helps identify roles within the classroom and the purpose for these roles.

Presentation Evaluation Did the presenter speak clearly, effectively, and in a professional manner? Explain your answer. In your opinion, what was the best and worst part of the presentation? If you could change one thing about the presentation what would you change? Did anything surprise you in this presentation? Any comments and/or recommendations for the presenter?

Resources: Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 HarperCollins Publishers James Anthony, The Family and the Psychoanalytic Process in Children (1980). Psychoanalytic Study of the Child Marion, M. (2011). Guidance of young children. St. Louis: Mosby Sexton, T. L., Weeks, G. R., & Robbins, M. S. (2003). Handbook of family therapy: The science and practice of working with families and couples. New York: Brunner- Routledge Williams, Brian; Stacey C. Sawyer, Carl M. Wahlstrom (2005). Marriages, Families & Intimate Relationships, Boston, MA: Pearson