Personal Definitions of Family 1a

 our personal beliefs about how families should be structured and behave. 1b

Professional Definition of Family 2a

 definitions of “family” that are provided by professional organizations. Professional definitions of family may not reflect legal definitions. 2b

Legal Definition of Family 3a

 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, “a family is a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together.” This definition is sometimes too narrow to encompass all the different family arrangements encountered by teachers. 3b

Traditional Family 4a

 the family structure that is considered the norm in society at any given point in time. 4b

Nuclear Family 5a

 a traditional family consisting of a husband and wife and their children. 5b

Extended Family 6a

 the nuclear family as well as immediate relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 6b

Fictive or Affiliated Kin 7a

 individuals with no biological or legal relationship to a family but who are nevertheless viewed as part of the family and are given family responsibilities. Fictive kin can include neighbors who care for children, Godparents, youth workers, and teachers. 7b

Normed Families 8a

 families that previously were viewed as atypical but are now considered a part of “normal” American society. Normed families include single-parent families, stepfamilies, and adoptive families. 8b

Vulnerable Families 9a

 families who, because of their life circumstances, experience financial, emotional, and physical stress that can impair their functioning and well- being. 9b

Homeless Families 10a

 families that lack permanent housing. 10b

Working-Poor Families 11a

 families whose incomes remain below the poverty threshold despite family members’ full-time employment. 11b

Emerging Families 12a

 family arrangements that are becoming more visible and gaining recognition in American society. 12b

Families of Choice 13a

 also known as network or friendship families, families of choice are formed when individuals who are not related join together to provide each other with emotional and / or financial support. 13b

Gay and Lesbian Families 14a

 same-sex partners with or without children. 14b

Same-Sex Marriage 15a

 recognized in a few states as the legal union between gay and lesbian partners. No state is required to recognize same-sex marriages, according to the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). 15b

Serial Monogamy 16a

 describes the series of monogamous relationships that individuals may experience over their lifetime. 16b

Multiple Partner Fertility 17a

 refers to adults who have children with more than one partner. Multiple partner fertility may accompany serial monogamy. 17b

Covenant Marriages 18a

 couples voluntarily enter into covenant marriages with the understanding that their state will grant a divorce only in a limited number of situations. Pre-marriage counseling also is often mandated as part of a covenant marriage. 18b

Household 19a

 everyone who occupies a housing unit. 19b

Family Household 20a

 a type of household in which at least one individual is related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. 20b

Nonfamily Household 21a

 a type of household in which a householder lives alone or with nonrelatives only. 21b

Parent 22a

 from a legal perspective, a biological or adoptive adult. This definition stands in contrast to a professional definition of parenthood. 22b

Biological Parents 23a

 parents who are genetically related to a child. 23b

Extended Parents 24a

 relatives of a nuclear family who assume parenting responsibilities. 24b

Sociological Parents 25a

 parents who assume the mother or father role even though they are not biologically related to a child. Examples include foster parents, adoptive parents, and stepparents. 25b

Professional Definition of Parenthood 26a

 acknowledges the parenting role played by any adult who, regardless of their legal standing, cares and provides for a child. This professional definition often is at odds with legal definitions. 26b

Parenting 27a

 child guidance practices used to socialize children. 27b

Authoritarian Parents 28a

 these parents exhibit a high level of demandingness but a low level of responsiveness. They expect blind obedience from their children. 28b

Permissive Parents 29a

 these parents make few demands upon their children and set few boundaries or rules. 29b

Authoritative Parents 30a

 sometimes referred to as democratic parents. These parents are responsive to their children’s wishes and ideas but also demand that agreed-upon rules be followed. Children of authoritative parents exhibit responsible and adaptive behavior. 30b

Learning Environment 31a

 any location in which children receive instruction and care. Learning environments commonly include public and private schools, non-profit and private early learning centers, and Head Start programs. However, they can also include other locations. 31b

Teachers 32a

 anyone who receives a professional license from their state to teach and care for children. 32b

Formal Education 33a

 characterized by a planned learning environment dedicated to helping children master educational standards. 33b

Informal Education 34a

 the many informal ways that families support their children’s learning experiences in the classroom, at home, and in the community. 34b

Community 35a

 a location defined by the quality of life provided through its institutions, services, cultural events, and the cohesion of its neighborhoods. 35b

Social Capacity 36a

 a community’s social capacity is reflect in its ability to use formal and informal connections to provide for the physical, psychological, social, and material care of its neighborhoods. 36b

Social Capital 37a

 the time and energy that families and communities devote to supporting the development of children and youth. Social capital can be used to support human capital. 37b

Collective Efficacy 38a

 the ability of a community to mobilize its social capital to improve the lives of others. 38b

Human Capital 39a

 While businesses raise economic capital, families, teachers, and community professionals raise human capital in the form of knowledge and skills. It is our human capital that prepares us for life as productive workers and community citizens. The types of human capital valued by a society can change over time. 39b

Community Scan 40a

 An informal strategy that teachers use to assess a community’s social capacity. 40b

Family Systems Theory 41a

 relationships are viewed as a series of social exchanges in which we attempt to maximize our rewards and minimize our costs. 41b

Family Rules 42a

 a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family rules refer to the standards of behavior that govern life within a family system. 42b

Family Boundaries 43a

 a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family boundaries function like gates in controlling the flow of information and social interactions between the family system and the outside world. Family boundaries are generally characterized as “open,” “closed,” or “permeable.” 43b

Family Equilibrium 44a

 a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family equilibrium is defined as a state of normalcy where everyone in a family knows what is expected of them. Families attempt to maintain or return to a state of equilibrium after they encounter challenges to their family life. 44b

Family Climate 45a

 a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. The family climate refers to the emotional environment in which family members live. 45b

Family Rituals 46a

 a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family rituals include patterns of behavior and daily routines that give meaning to family life and interactions. 46b

Family Stories 47a

 a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family stories are used to transmit family values and rules between generations. 47b

Family Myths 48a

 a concept associated with Family Systems Theory. Family myths refer to those beliefs about family life that are not open for debate. 48b