2. Chapter 2
Families and Parents

3. Key Terms family adoption adoptive families foster family guardians
nuclear family
single-parent family
stepfamily
extended family
family functions
values
gender role
family life cycle
socioeconomic status
lifestyle
technology

4. Parenting Occurs in a Family
Family is defined in many different ways
A person’s family of origin includes the family members with whom he or she lived during childhood
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5. In Your Opinion
What is your definition of family?

6. Objective Explain ways that families may be formed. morgueFile
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7. How Families Are Formed
by marriage
by birth
by adoption
through foster families
through families with guardians

8. By Marriage When a man and a woman marry, they create a new family
If one or both spouses have children from previous relationships, the family includes the couple and their children

9. By Birth
Every baby has biological parents or birthparents, a man and a woman who gave him or her life
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10. By Adoption People choose to adopt for various reasons:
If the couple is unable to have biological children
If one spouse has a hereditary condition that may affect the future of any biological children
To start an adoptive family and offer loving homes to children who need them

11. Through Foster Families
Foster care is temporary care provided for a child
Foster parents are adults who volunteer and are trained to provide a temporary home for a child who needs one

12. With Guardians
Unlike foster parents, guardians provide a permanent home for children
These arrangements are legally approved
While guardians have some custodial and parenting responsibilities, they have to follow the decisions made by birthparents as stated in court
For example, the use of monies

13. In Your Opinion
All family members do not necessarily share a common genetic background. What do they share?

14. Objective
Describe the five family structures and the unique characteristics of each.
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15. How Families Are Structured
A family’s structure tells
how it is organized
how many people are in the household
how they are related
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16. How Families Are Structured
Five common family structures in the U.S.
Nuclear families
Single-parent families
Stepfamilies
Extended families
Couples without children

17. Nuclear Families
The nuclear family is less common today than it was years ago

18. Single-Parent Families
Single-parent families are the fastest growing parenting structure in the U.S.

19. Stepfamilies
As with single-parent families, stepfamilies are growing in number

20. Extended Families
The extended family structure is more common in countries other than the U.S.

21. Couples Without Children
Couples without children are a family

22. In Your Opinion
Is there a family structure that is ideal? Why is this your opinion?
The single-parent family is the fastest growing family structure in the U.S. Why do you think this is?

23. Objective List the functions of the family. morgueFile
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24. How Families Function
Although families may differ in the way they are formed and in their structure, they perform the same basic family functions
Procreation
Economic support
Emotional growth and well-being
Socialization/education
Assignment of social roles

25. Similar, Yet Different
Parents and children may have different values and customs according to their ethnic or religious backgrounds
Children may develop social roles, such as their gender role, based on what they have been taught by their parents, guardians, and the society in which they live

26. In Your Opinion
What are some skills or values you have learned from your family?
Are these different from those of families in previous generations?
How are they different from the skills and values of your friends’ families?

27. Objective
Describe the stages of the family life cycle.

28. Families Develop in Stages
Developmental changes occur in what some experts call the family life cycle
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29. Families Develop in Stages
As children are born, the family expands
As children leave home, the family contracts
Some experts do not view family life as a cycle; some believe families go through a linear or straight-line arrangement

30. Children Develop in Stages
Competent parents adapt their parenting to meet a child’s current stage of development
By using the “best fit” parenting goals and methods for each stage, parenting is made easier and more rewarding

31. In Your Opinion
Which family structures might not fit the concept of the family life cycle?
Would the family life career, or linear, arrangement be a better fit for these families?
If so, why?
If not, how would you diagram the development and stages of family life?

32. Objective
Identify six parenting stages.

33. Parenting Happens in Stages
According to Ellen Galinsky, parents go through six parenting stages

34. Galinsky’s Parenting Stages
Parental tasks based on child’s age:
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35. Galinsky’s Parenting Stages
Parental tasks based on child’s age:

36. In Your Opinion
How do Galinsky’s stages of parenting correlate with each of the stages of the family life cycle?

37. Objective
Explain how the family operates as a social system.

38. Families Operate as a System
A system is an interacting group of parts that form a unified whole
Families are social systems that work together to make decisions and set and achieve family goals
In order to understand parenting, you must look beyond the parent-child relationship

39. Parenting Goes Two Ways
Parenting is a two-way process that involves a give-and-take influence between parents and child

40. Patterns of Behavior Evolve
Healthy behavior patterns help families maintain balance in the family system

41. Family Systems Have Boundaries
Family boundaries are limits that control the degree of closeness between members; families that have
closed boundaries value emotional closeness, togetherness, and a sense of belonging to the family
open boundaries value independence more than a sense of belonging

42. Events Can Challenge Family Systems
Challenges within the family include severe illness, disability of a family member, or divorce of the parents
Challenges from outside the family include job loss or a natural disaster that threatens the family’s home and belongings
Flexible families can often work through the challenges and restore stability

43. In Your Opinion
Behavior patterns in family systems are often difficult to change. Why do you think this is?
Think of one negative behavior pattern in your family system. What could you do to help change this to a positive one?

44. Objective
Describe how other factors affect parents’ goals and interactions with their children.

45. Factors That Impact Parenting
Cultural background
Socioeconomic status
Lifestyle
Early relationships
Community
Media
Technology
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46. Cultural Background Cultural differences in parenting may be seen in
goals of parents
communication during childhood
parent discipline style
consequences of misbehavior
parents helping children as adults
adult child’s relationships with parents

47. Socioeconomic Status
Social and economic factors that impact a family’s socioeconomic status include
occupation
education
level of income
A family’s socioeconomic status can influence their parenting practices

48. Lifestyle Families often deal with lifestyles factors, such as
location (where a family lives)
work life (parents’ jobs or careers)
leisure time (how a family spends time together)
Children’s lives, attitudes, beliefs, and values are shaped by the lifestyle of their family of origin

49. Early Relationships
Childhood family experiences provide the mental blueprint for parenting the next generation
Parents who were close to their own parents tend to be emotionally supportive of their own children
Parents who carry conflict into their parenting role often think negatively about their children’s behavior

50. Community Community concerns and resources influence families
Each community differs in the amount of resources available to meet citizens’ needs
Each community passes regulations and laws that reflect the needs of its members
A family’s level of involvement with its community may also make a difference

51. Media The media can influence families in positive and negative ways
Families use the media for information, learning, and entertainment
Dangers exist when parents do not monitor their children’s exposure to media
Another danger is overexposure to media

52. Technology Examples of technologies that may benefit families include
home technology
computer technology
health technology
Drawbacks include cost and families becoming dependent on technology

53. In Your Opinion
What are some of the positive and negative influences of the media and technology on families?
What can parents do to make the most of the positive influences and eliminate negative influences for their children?

54. Objective
Summarize the effects of parenting practices for children, parents, and society.
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55. Connecting Parents, Children, and Society
Parents, children, and society all have critical, interacting roles in the parenting process

56. Families, Parents, and Society Work Together to Raise Children
It takes a village to raise a child. ~ African Proverb