1. Family Ties Mid/Late Lifespan Development

2. OBJECTIVE:
Come up with a personal definition or statement on what family means to you.

3. What is a Family?
Two or more adults related by blood, marriage, or affiliation who cooperate economically, share a common dwelling place and may rear children.
They are important because they are a child’s first connection to the world.

4. HOW DOES MEDIA PORTRAY CONFLICT & PROBLEMS IN FAMILIES?
Love will conquer all.
30 minutes can resolve any problem.
Usually solved with manipulation or humor.
Divorce is rare & a trend towards non traditional families.
Total omission of household chores which is a huge source of conflict.
Life is much less complicated than in reality.
Rarely see divorce, unemployment, chronic illness, death, poverty, caring for elderly.

5. Types of Families:
Nuclear Family - consists of a mother, father and their children.
2. Extended Family - includes relatives other than parents and children within a single household.

6. Single Parent Family - consists of 1. parent and 1 or more children
Single Parent Family - consists of 1 parent and 1 or more children sharing a household. The custodial parent is the one whom the child resides with.
4. Blended Family - consists of a married couple and at least 1 child from a parents previous relationship.

7. IS THE AMERICAN FAMILY DYING OR CEASING TO EXIST?
Consider this:
Nine out of ten people continue to live in households as family members
Nine out of ten young adults marry.
The majority (three out of four) of those who divorce will remarry.
The majority of those who marry will have children.

8. Functions of the Family?
1. To meet physical needs.
A. Provide food, clothing & shelter
B. Provide for health & safety
Meet emotional needs.
Families help children feel loved and accepted in order to develop a positive self image and a high self-esteem.

9. Meet intellectual needs.
2. Meeting Social Needs.
The family teaches basic social skills of communication, cooperation and respect for others. The socialization process begins in the family.
Meet intellectual needs.
The family is a child’s first teacher - sharing knowledge, stimulating thinking and encouraging creativity.

10. Instilling Moral Values
Families help children learn values such as honesty, fairness, respect that will be a basis of their actions and decisions throughout life.

11. The Family Life Cycle:
The family life cycle is a series of stages in a predictable order that each family goes through.

12. Stages of the Family Life Cycle:
Beginning Stage - the couple marries
2. Parenting Stage - the couple prepares & adjusts to parenthood.
Parents meet children’s needs as they grow & help them become independent

13. 3. Launching Stage - the children leave home
4. Middle Age Stage - the last child leaves home and the couple adjusts to a change in their roles.
5. Retirement Stage - the couple adjusts to the aging process

14. Trends Affecting Families
Every family is affected by social trends!
Roles & Responsibilities - most Mom’s also work outside of the house and household responsibilities are shared.
Smaller Families - families are having less kids.

15. Divorce and Remarriage - more marriages today end in divorce.
Single-Parent Households - Single parents face challenges of raising the kids alone while working to support the family.
Longer Life Spans - people live longer today which means that many adults will care for their children plus their parents (sandwich generation)

16. Increased Mobility - it is not uncommon
Increased Mobility - it is not uncommon for a family to move several times due to increased transportation.
7. Advances in Technology - new technology makes it easier for families to stay in touch, work from their homes and make life easier.

17. Strengthening Families:
Show Respect:
A. Listen to and consider others’ point of view.
B. Follow the rules.
C. Ask before you borrow someone else's property.
D. Give other’s the privacy they need.
E. Be considerate of other’s feelings.

18. Trust - family members can count on each other’s help and support.
2. Communication - good communication is essential to coordinate schedules and plans. It can be achieved by using calendars, message boards& family meetings.
Trust - family members can count on each other’s help and support.

19. Emotional Support - Emotional support
Emotional Support - Emotional support includes words and actions that are positive and reassuring.
Sharing - Families can share by working together, dividing responsibilities, share family traditions and spend time together.
Support Systems - a support system consist of all the people and organizations a family can turn to for help. This tends to be the extended family members.

20. Your Role in the Family:
As a teen you need to plan ahead to set a priority to spend time with your family. You will be responsible for keeping your family strong for years to come.

21. Activity:
On a blank piece of paper, draw your family visually. On the other side with pictures draw what a family is - no words.

22. Your Family Experiences
1. Which “category” does your family fit under?
2. Which is more important to you quality time or quantity time? To your family?
3. Describe ways your family strengthens each other. (Use ideas from notes)